Constitutional Convention

James Madison and the Case Against Compromise

by Joe Wolverton, II | Nov 30, 2021 | Constitution, Constitutional Convention, James Madison

Over the three days spanning from July 2 to July 5, 1787, the attendees at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia approved a resolution that would sufficiently satisfy the demands of delegates from small states for equality of representation and those from the...

The Framers did not violate their trust

by Rob Natelson | May 4, 2021 | Constitution, Constitutional Convention

This is the fifth in a series of essays defending the U.S. Constitution against common accusations against it. This essay examines the claim that that the framers – the Constitution’s drafters – staged a coup d’état by proposing a new Constitution. As...

Despite What They Tell You: The Constitution Never Discriminated Against Women

by Rob Natelson | Jan 29, 2021 | Constitution, Constitutional Convention, Founding Principles, Ratification Debates

One way some writers try to discredit the Constitution is to assert that the document’s original meaning discriminated against women. Thus, a 2011 Time Magazine cover story claimed that “The [Constitution’s] framers gave us the idea that . . . women were not allowed...

Today in History: Constitution Finalized and Signed

by Dave Benner | Sep 17, 2020 | Constitution, Constitutional Convention, Founding Principles, History

Today in 1787, representatives in Philadelphia signed the finalized United States Constitution. This occurred after a summer filled with contrasting proposals and rigorous debate. The convention decided upon a league of states rather than a national government,...

Today in History: The Philadelphia Convention Scheduled to Begin

by Dave Benner | May 14, 2019 | Constitution, Constitutional Convention, Founding Fathers

Today in 1787, delegates from the several states convened in Philadelphia to form a convention with the initial aim of proposing amendments to the Articles of Confederation. A number of delegates were not present on May 14, mostly due to the difficulty of travel in...

Today in History: The General Government Inaugurated Under the Constitution

by Dave Benner | Mar 4, 2019 | Constitution, Constitutional Convention, Founding Fathers, Founding Principles, History

Today in history, on March 4th, 1789, the general government under the United States Constitution went into effect. The occasion represented the end of a bitter ratification struggle that involved every corner of the fledgling states, and the beginning of a new...

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The 10th Amendment

“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

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