Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American ConstitutionIn May 1787, in an atmosphere of crisis, delegates met in Philadelphia to design a radically new form of government. Distinguished historian Richard Beeman captures as never before the dynamic of the debate and the characters of the men who labored that historic summer. Virtually all of the issues in dispute—the extent of presidential power, the nature of federalism, and, most explosive of all, the role of slavery—have continued to provoke conflict throughout our nation's history. This unprecedented book takes readers behind the scenes to show how the world's most enduring constitution was forged through conflict, compromise, and fragile consensus. As Gouverneur Morris, delegate of Pennsylvania, noted: "While some have boasted it as a work from Heaven, others have given it a less righteous origin. I have many reasons to believe that it is the work of plain, honest men." |
Contents
CHAPTER ONEThe Crisis | 3 |
CHAPTER TWO The Indispensable Men of the Convention | 22 |
CHAPTER THREEThe Delay that Produced a Revolution | 41 |
CHAPTER FOURThe Convention Opens for Business | 58 |
CHAPTER FIVE A HighStakes Gamble | 86 |
CHAPTER SIXWe the People or We the States? | 105 |
CHAPTER SEVENImagining the American Presidency | 124 |
CHAPTER EIGHTCounterattack | 144 |
CHAPTER TWELVEBeyond the Connecticut Compromise | 226 |
CHAPTER THIRTEEN The People Are the King | 240 |
CHAPTER FOURTEEN Fashioning a First Draft of | 258 |
CHAPTER SIXTEEN The General Welfare | 296 |
Day of Decision | 359 |
CHAPTER TWENTYONE Achieving a More | 386 |
EPILOGUE A Republic If You Can Keep | 412 |
Acknowledgments | 425 |
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Common terms and phrases
adjourned agreed Alexander Hamilton amendments American Antifederalists argued Articles of Confederation believed central government Charles Pinckney citizens colleagues Committee of Detail compromise Confederation government Connecticut Constitutional Convention Continental Congress Convention of 1787 Convention's debate decision Delaware delegates draft Edmund Randolph Elbridge Gerry elected electors equal Farrand favor Federalists Founding Fathers framers George Mason George Washington Georgia Gouverneur Morris Henry House Ibid important Independence issue James Madison James Wilson Jefferson John Rutledge July June laws legislative liberty Luther Martin Maryland Massachusetts ment Morris's Nathaniel Gorham national government national legislature nationalists Oliver Ellsworth opposed Paterson Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pinckney's political president Press of Virginia principle proposal Rakove ratifying convention repre representatives resolution Robert Morris Roger Sherman role Rufus King Senate serve slave trade slavery South Carolina Southern speech summer three-fifths tion union United University Press vention veto Virginia Plan vote William Samuel Johnson York