The Constitutional Convention
On this day in 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention begin to assemble in Philadelphia to confront a daunting task: the peaceful overthrow of the new American government as defined by the Article of Confederation. Although the convention was originally supposed to begin on May 14, James Madison reported that a small number only had assembled. Meetings had to be pushed back until May 25, when a sufficient quorum of the participating states—Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia—had arrived.
Key Points
- All colonies but Georgia sent delegates, as they needed to keep good relations with the British in hopes of receiving help in fending off the Native Americans.
- They met and created a body that could represent a unified determination against what they deemed as British injustices, and discussed actions such as the economic boycott of Britain.
- They set out to make Britain, the King, and Parliament understand their grievances. The first few weeks of the Constitutional Convention were filled with debate and arguing, as the delegates acted and thought in their own interests.
- Eventually, the delegates were able to resolve their differences and come together to discuss issues for the greater and general good instead of their once selfish agendas.
- On October 14, the Declaration and Resolves was created and stated the basic principles that all of the colonies should follow.