The Constitutional Convention took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The intention of many of its proponents, chief among them James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, was to create a new government rather than fix the existing one. The delegates elected George Washington to preside over the Convention. The result of the Convention was the creation of the United States Constitution, placing the Convention among the most significant events in the history of the United States. The Constitutional Convention created a new, unprecedented form of government by reallocating powers of government. Every previous national authority had been either a centralized government, or a "confederation of sovereign constituent states." The American power-sharing was unique at the time. The sources and changes of power were up to the states. The foundations of government and extent of power came from both national and state sources. But the new government would have a national operation.

This eBook edition of "The Great Debate That Made the U.S. Constitution" has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. The Constitutional Convention took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The intention of many of its proponents, chief among them James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, was to create a new government rather than fix the existing one. The delegates elected George Washington to preside over the Convention. The result of the Convention was the creation of the United States Constitution, placing the Convention among the most significant events in the history of the United States. The Constitutional Convention created a new, unprecedented form of government by reallocating powers of government. Every previous national authority had been either a centralized government, or a "confederation of sovereign constituent states." The American power-sharing was unique at the time. The sources and changes of power were up to the states. The foundations of government and extent of power came from both national and state sources. But the new government would have a national operation.

Classic Books Library presents this brand new edition of “The Federalist Papers”, a collection of separate essays and articles compiled in 1788 by Alexander Hamilton. Following the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776, the governing doctrines and policies of the States lacked cohesion. “The Federalist”, as it was previously known, was constructed by American statesman Alexander Hamilton, and was intended to catalyse the ratification of the United States Constitution. Hamilton recruited fellow statesmen James Madison Jr., and John Jay to write papers for the compendium, and the three are known as some of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Alexander Hamilton (c. 1755–1804) was an American lawyer, journalist and highly influential government official. He also served as a Senior Officer in the Army between 1799-1800 and founded the Federalist Party, the system that governed the nation’s finances. His contributions to the Constitution and leadership made a significant and lasting impact on the early development of the nation of the United States.

The dramatic story of the debate over the ratification of the Constitution, the first new account of this seminal moment in American history in years.

The very future of the nation was at stake... In the summer of 1787, fifty-five of the leading figures in the recently independent United States of America travelled to Philadelphia as delegates to the Federal Convention to address problems arising from implementation of the Articles of Confederation as the governing document establishing federal authority and the rights of the newly formed states. The very future of the nation was at stake. Despite the sweltering heat that summer, the windows were kept shut and locked, lest outsiders hear what was being said. This handsome, affordable paperback edition contains James Madison's entire narrative of the stirring historic debates that led to the creation of one of the free world's most respected documents: the Constitution of the United States. Known today as the 'Father of the Constitution', Madison clearly and precisely chronicles the often-heated discussions, and his is the primary record of the events that established the United States government, its division of power, and ultimately the character of American democracy. Through Madison's words we understand the essence of the personalities involved and the conflict and compromise that was inherent in the drafting of the document. The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 includes Madison's notes and remarks as well as other requisite information for interpreting the events of that historic year. The work is divided into three parts: "Antecedents of the Federal Convention of 1787", which presents the complete text of the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation; "The Federal Convention of 1787", a day-by-day description of the debates surrounding the formation of the Constitution; and "The Constitution, Its Ratification, and Amendments", which presents the complete text of the Constitution, documents attesting to its ratification, and the Bill of Rights. With a preface by University of Richmond historian Robert Alley, this landmark work is absolutely indispensable for historians, scholars, and all those who treasure America's heritage.