The Constitutional Convention of 1787: A Reference Guide

This history of the 1787 Constitutional Convention uses a chronological narrative format to capture the complexity, messiness, and unfolding daily drama behind the writing of the U.S. Constitution, as well as the role of contingency in that process.

• Captures the drama, complexity, and contingency of the Constitutional Convention through chronological narrative

• Is accessible to readers in terms of length and writing style

• Finds its basis in trustworthy and citable primary sources

• Includes a background chapter on events leading up to the convention, as well as a concluding chapter that covers the ratification of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights

• Includes 15 primary source documents, 15 biographical sketches of convention delegates, a chronology, and a bibliographical essay