A look at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that created the United States Constitution.

1. 200YearsLater

2. Something New? Shays’ Rebellion in Western Massachusetts was the push that many needed to try and make changes to the Articles of Confederation, as Congress could do nothing but sit and watch as Massachusetts tried to fight off angry farmers.

3. Something New? Representatives from 5 states met in Annapolis, Maryland in September, 1786 to discuss possible changes.

4. Something New? After the Annapolis Convention failed to produce any significant results, the delegates there decided to meet again in a year in Philadelphia and again invited states to send delegates to the meeting.

5. Something New? In May, 1787, 55 delegates from 12 of the 13 states (Rhode Island did not attend) met to discuss changes in the central government.

6. Something New? James Madison, a wealthy Virginia planter, attended every session of the convention and took extensive notes that are the greatest record that we have of the events.

7. Something New? His actions during the convention helped him to become as the “Father of the Constitution.”

8. Trouble Almost immediately, there were divisions among the delegates as to whether or not to get rid of the Articles of Confederation all together.

9. Trouble The problem was that the only reason for having the convention in the first place was simply to amend, or change, the Articles, and to do anything else would have beyond the scope of the delegates.

10. Trouble However, that is exactly what the delegates did as they began work on a new document, under the leadership of George Washington, named president of the convention.

11. Trouble With that decision made, the delegates now had to figure out what would go in the new document, and to do that they did what they did best: compromise