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The '''Constitutional Convention''' was held between May and September of 1787 in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]] to deal with the glaring weaknesses with the [[Articles of Confederation]]. Rather that revise the Articles of Confederation, the delegates at the Convention quickly decided to replace it with a new constitution. Famous patriots in attendance included [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[James Madison]], [[John Jay]], [[Alexander Hamilton]], [[George Washington]], [[George Mason]]. Absent were [[John Hancock]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[John Adams]], and [[Patrick Henry]].

The '''Constitutional Convention''' was held between May and September of 1787 in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]] to deal with the glaring weaknesses with the [[Articles of Confederation]]. Rather that revise the Articles of Confederation, the delegates at the Convention quickly decided to replace it with a new constitution. Famous patriots in attendance included [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[James Madison]], [[John Jay]], [[Alexander Hamilton]], [[George Washington]], [[George Mason]]. Absent were [[John Hancock]], [[Thomas Jefferson]], [[John Adams]], and [[Patrick Henry]].

The original 55 delegates were from the following [[Christian]] congregations: 26 Episcopalian, 11 Presbyterian, 7 Congregationalist, and 2 each who were Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Dutch Reformed, Methodist, and Quaker, plus Benjamin Franklin.<ref>http://www.americanminute.com/index.php?date=06-21&view=View</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=x3vkAAAAMAAJ&pg=PP17 The Living Church, Volume 111], Churchmen Among the Founding Fathers</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=EBc3AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA414 The church for Americans ...: Revised and enlarged]</ref>

The original 55 delegates were from the following [[Christian]] congregations: 26 Episcopalian, 11 Presbyterian, 7 Congregationalist, and 2 each who were Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Dutch Reformed, Methodist, and Quaker, plus Benjamin Franklin.<ref>http://www.americanminute.com/index.php?date=06-21&view=View</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=x3vkAAAAMAAJ&pg=PP17 The Living Church, Volume 111], Churchmen Among the Founding Fathers</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=EBc3AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA414 The church for Americans ...: Revised and enlarged]</ref>

At the time the Constitution was written, most states had recently written new constitutions of their own, so constitution-making was a well-known process. They all reflected the basic American political value of a Democratic Republic.  Conservatives hail it as a great triumph. [[File:Beeman09.jpg|thumb|280px]]

At the time the Constitution was written, most states had recently written new constitutions of their own, so constitution-making was a well-known process. They all reflected the basic American political value of a Democratic Republic.  Conservatives hail it as a great triumph.

 

[[File:Beeman09.jpg|thumb|290px]]

==Demand for reform==

==Demand for reform==

By 1785, newspaper essayists and petitioners in favor of national trade policies were demanding a vigorous, expanding, interdependent continental economy. They envisioned a national union whose primary purpose was to create a continental marketplace that could operate free of obstruction by contrived, and unnecessary, provincial entities.  Washington spoke for many American nationalists dismayed at the national weakness and loss of national pride. He knew that the Revolution had nearly been lost because of the impotence of the national government; Washington feared that the nation might not be so fortunate during the next emergency.<ref>Ferling; ''A Leap in the Dark'' p 258-9.</ref>

By 1785, newspaper essayists and petitioners in favor of national trade policies were demanding a vigorous, expanding, interdependent continental economy. They envisioned a national union whose primary purpose was to create a continental marketplace that could operate free of obstruction by contrived, and unnecessary, provincial entities.  Washington spoke for many American nationalists dismayed at the national weakness and loss of national pride. He knew that the Revolution had nearly been lost because of the impotence of the national government; Washington feared that the nation might not be so fortunate during the next emergency.<ref>Ferling; ''A Leap in the Dark'' p 258-9.</ref>