In the summer of 1787, delegates gathered for a convention in Philadelphia, with the goal of revising the Articles of Confederation—the nation’s existing governing document. However, rather than simply revising the Articles of Confederation, they wrote an entirely new framework of government: the U.S. Constitution. This new government was more powerful than the national government established by the Articles of Confederation, but the Constitution also limited the powers of this new government. In this module, you will explore the debates and compromises that occurred at the Constitutional Convention and explore the key arguments during the battle over ratification.
Module 4: Constitutional Convention and Ratification
In this Fun Friday Session, Jill Lepore, David Woods Kemper ’41 Professor of American History at Harvard University and writer for The New Yorker, joins National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a discussion on the issues and events in early America that led to the Constitutional Convention.
James Madison's 'Notes': Revising the Constitutional Convention with Mary Sarah Bilder. This is the second of four events of the Bill of Rights Book Festival.
On May 25, 1787, the convention to write a new United States Constitution began in Philadelphia. So who much do you know about the key people in the room?
It was on this day in 1787 when the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia started in earnest and the first votes were taken at what is now called Independence Hall.
Biographers detail his fascinating life and key role in creating the Constitution.
Explore our new 15-unit core curriculum with educational videos, primary texts, and more.
Search and browse videos, podcasts, and blog posts on constitutional topics.
Discover primary texts and historical documents that span American history and have shaped the American constitutional tradition.
