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| You are in: Virtual Public Library >> Hall of the Historic Archives >> United States Constitution | |
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The Federal Convention convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in
Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. Because
the delegations from only two states were at first present, the members
adjourned from day to day until a quorum of seven states was obtained on May 25.
Through discussion and debate it became clear by mid-June that, rather than
amend the existing Articles, the Convention would draft an entirely new frame of
government. All through the summer, in closed sessions, the delegates debated,
and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution. Among the chief points at
issue were how much power to allow the central government, how many
representatives in Congress to allow each state, and how these representatives
should be elected--directly by the people or by the state legislators. The work
of many minds, the Constitution stands as a model of cooperative statesmanship
and the art of compromise.
The Founding Fathers page features the biographies of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention.
You can read a transcription of the complete text of the Constitution. This page also provides hyperlinks to biographies of each of the 39 delegates who signed the Constitution.
The article "A More Perfect Union" is an in-depth look at the Constitutional Convention and the ratification process.
"Questions and Answers Pertaining to the Constitution" presents dozens of fascinating facts about the Constitution.
Page two of the U.S. Constitution was unveiled in its new encasement on September 15, 2000. Read remarks issued at the ceremony by John W. Carlin, Archivist of the United States, and Dr. Michael Beschloss.
You can also display high-resolution image of each of the pages of the Constitution:
On September 17, 1787, the document was signed and sent to Congress, which soon forwarded printed copies to the state legislatures. Then began the great debate. Madison, Hamilton, and Jay wrote the brilliant Federalist Papers. George Mason, Elbridge Gerry, and Patrick Henry led the Antifederalists in opposing it. Others joined in the argument, in pamphlets, articles, speeches, and letters. By June 21, 1788, conventions in nine states later approved it. Thus the States, which had so recently gained their independence, gave up some of their hard-won sovereignty "in Order to form a more perfect Union."
Image: James Madison was not only the preeminent figure at the
convention
but also played a leading role in the ratification process.
Signers of the Constitution
| Control Number | NWCTB-360-CONVENTION-ROLL1F105 |
|---|---|
| Media | Textual records |
| Descr. Level | Item |
| Record Group | 360 |
| Series | CONVENTION |
| Item | ROLL1F105 |
| Title | Voting Record of the Constitutional Convention |
| Dates | 1787 |
| Sample Record(s) | 
(larger access
file - 407098 bytes) |
| Creating Org. | Constitutional Convention. |
| Record Type/Genre | [Tallies] |
| Scope & Content | For four months the delegates debated fundamental questions relating to government, power, and human nature. Each and every clause of the Constitution was painstakingly argued and resolved. The voting record reflects the countless diplomacies, concessions, and comprises that produced the Constitution. This page records the final vote taken September 15, 1787. Delegates to the Convention signed the proposed Constitution on September 17, 1787. William Jackson, who served as Secretary of the Convention, recorded the votes. Throughout the entire voting record, the column for Rhode Island is blank or blacked out, since that state chose not to participate in the Convention. The column for New York is blank only for the later stages of the Convention, as two of the three delegates from that state departed early.The voting record of the convention is in two bound volumes. |
| General Note | Exhibit History: The exhibit history that follows is a composite for both volumes. "American Originals," December 1997 - December 1998, National Archives Rotunda, Exhibit no. 624.0192. "This Fierce Spirit of Liberty," June 1989 - December 1991, National Archives Rotunda, Washington, DC. "Washington Salutes Washington," February 1989 - August 1989, Museum of Science and History, Seattle, WA, Exhibit No. 1069.0002. "Creating the Constitution," October 1986 - March 1989, Exhibit No. 547.xxxx "The American Solution." May 1987 - September 1987, Library of Congress, Washington, DC, Exhibit No. 1032.0001. "Formation of the Union," National Archives Rotunda, January 1983 - September 1986. |
| Variant Control# | NWDT1-360-CONVENTION-ROLL1F105 |
| See Also | Series Description |
| Access | Unrestricted. |
| Use Restrictions | None. |
| Items | 1 item(s) |
| Contact | Old Military and Civil Records (NWCTB), National Archives Building, 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408 PHONE: 202-501-5395 FAX: 202-208-1903 |
The United Colonies 1st
government began in a Philadelphia Tavern
and the United States 1st federal government ended in a
NYC Tavern!
The Founders convened the government in 11 different capitol buildings and
experienced 15 years of challenges that
included war,
hyper-inflation, a failed
constitution, judicial corruption, armed citizen and U.S. Army rebellions.
Click Here For United States Court of Appeals Update
Which U.S. President adopted
the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention
resolution, enacted the Northwest Ordinance, and backed George Washington,
James Madison and Nathaniel Gorham's resolution to submit the new U.S.
Constitution to the States for ratification without Congressional
alterations?
For A Unique
Vacation on Florida's Nature Coast
Click Here
The Coachman House Circa 1870 at Cedar Key
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