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www.lernerbooks. A *Provided by a trained reading consultant 009–012 ATOS: 5.9 Lexile: 760 Guided Reading: R* QUESTiONS SIX What Was the Missouri Compromise? over Slavery about the Struggle And Other Questions What Difference Could aWaterway Make? Could Difference What Canal about the Erie And Other Questions What Was the Continental Congress? of about the Declaration And Other Questions Independence How Many People Traveled the Oregon Trail? West about the Trail And Other Questions How Did Tea and Taxes Spark a Revolution? Party Tea about the Boston And Other Questions How Did Slaves Find a Route to Freedom? Railroad about the Underground And Other Questions THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Candice Ransom

LERNER PUBLICATIONS • MINNEAPOLIS Who What Why Where When How A Word about Language English word usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation have changed over the centuries. We have preserved original spellings Who What Why Where Whenand word usage in theHow quotations included in thisWho book. What Why Where When How Who What Why Where When How Who What Why Where When How

Copyright © 2011 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. Who What Why WhereAll rights reserved. International copyright secured.When No part of this book may be HowWho What Why Where When How reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

Lerner Publications Company Who What Why Where WhenA division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. HowWho What Why Where When How 241 First Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55401 USA WhoFor reading levels and more information, Whatlook up this title at www.lernerbooks.com. Why Where When How Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Ransom, Candice F., 1952– Who wrote the U.S. Constitution? And other questions about the Constitutional Convention of 1787 / by Candice Ransom. p. cm. — (Six questions of American history) Who What Why Where Includes bibliographical references and index. When How ISBN 978–1–58013–669–3 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper) ISBN 978–0–7613–6319–4 (EB pdf) 1. United States. Constitutional Convention (1787)—Juvenile literature. 2. United States. Constitution—Juvenile literature. 3. United States—Politics and government—1783–1789—Juvenile literature. 4. Constitutional history—United Who What States—JuvenileWhy literature. I. Title. II. Title: Who wrote Wherethe US Constitution? When How E303.R36 2011 320.973—dc22 2009047425

Manufactured in the United States of America Who What Why Where When3 – HF – 5/1/15 HowWho What Why Where When How Who What Why Where When How Who Who What Why Where When HowWhat Where table of contents Who What Why Where4 WhyWhen How ...... Introduction 6 ONE When Who What Why Where WhoWhenRING . . . . What . . . How...... Why12 Where When How GATHE two ION BEGINS ...... How THE CONVENT 18

Who What Why Where When HowthrWhoee What Why Where When How A NEW PLA N ...... 24 Who four OF POWERS ...... SEPARATION 30 What Who What Why Where When HowWho fivWhate MISE ...... Why...... Where When How MPRO THE GREAT CO 36Where six HE PEOPLE ...... Who WhatO F ANDWhy FOR T WhereWhy When How Primary Source: James Madison’s Notes 42 Tell Your Constitutional Convention Story 43 When Timeline 44 Who What Why WhereSource Notes 46 When HowHow The six Selected Bibliography 46 questions Further Reading and Websites 47 help you Who Who What Why Where When HowWhoIndex 48 Whatdiscover Why Where When How facts! the What Who What Why Where When How Where Why Who What Why WhereWhen When How Who What Why Where When HowHow UCTION INTROD

On a May day in 1787, a stagecoach bounced over a rough Pennsylvania road. The coach’s passenger had been riding for days through the countryside. The journey was uncomfortable, but the quiet passenger knew it was worth it. He had worked for months to prepare for a meeting in Philadelphia. In the distance, he spotted church spires of the city. Almost there!

Ten days later, a tall, broad-shouldered man arrived at the outskirts of Philadelphia. He came to the city to attend the same important meeting. The man was a famous army general. City officials honored him with a thirteen-gun salute— one cannon for each of the thirteen states. Those states were originally thirteen colonies, ruled by Great Britain. In 1776 the colonies declared their independence. They wanted to be free of British rule. The quiet man and the tall man helped lead the country through a war against Britain. In 1781 the colonies won their freedom. They became the United States of America. The new nation adopted the Articles of Confederation—a set of rules for the U.S. government. Leaders thought the Articles of Confederation were the right plan for the country. But over the course of the 1780s, it became clear that the plan was not working. The country was in trouble. Unless something was done, the United States might break apart. In 1786 state representatives began planning a meeting to discuss how to fix the Articles of Confederation. 4 Soon after arriving in Philadelphia, the tall man stopped at a brick house on a quiet street. He was shown in and greeted by an elderly man wearing glasses. The man’s simple clothes did not show that he was famous around the world. The two men talked about the meeting, which was due to start the following day. Others were making their way to the city too. Most believed they were meeting to fix the Articles of Confederation. But these three had different ideas. Who were these three men?

5 Who This flag, made by American Betsy Ross, has thirteen stars and thirteen stripes. The stars and stripes represented each of the What original thirteen colonies. Where Why When How Who What Where ne Why o Gathering from 1775 to The three men who gathered—James Madison, When1783, a conflict between Great George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin— HowBritain and its helped lead the colonies during the Revolutionary War. American colonies. The British Like many American colonists, they had thought Whosurrendered in British rule was unfair. They felt that Great Britain 1781. The war had given the colonists no control over how they officially ended Whatin 1783 with the were governed. WhereTreaty of Paris. After the revolution, the Articles of Confederation loosely held together the thirteen U.S. states. Why But most citizens were more loyal to their states than to the new nation. They called themselves New Yorkers or When How 6 Pennsylvanians rather than What Were the Articles Americans. They did not of Confederation? think of the states as working A confederation is a group of people or states bound to one another by together under one nation. agreement. An article is a section Many people were also of writing in a larger document. suspicious of a strong The Articles of Confederation were thirteen statements. They explained federal government. They a central or national power the independence of the thirteen had just overthrown that unites a states and the power given to the a large, controlling group of states central government that bound them together. government. Why would they want another? So the articles allowed each state to run its own government. Each state had its own laws and its own way of doing business with other states. Under the articles, state governments were stronger than the federal government. The federal government could not force states to pay taxes to support the country. It could not control how states dealt with one another or even with foreign countries.

“’Tis a universal [feeling] that our present system is a bad one. . . . A convention would revive the hopes of the people.” –Alexander Hamilton, a New York delegate to the 1787 convention Alexander Hamilton

7 The federal government also had no leader, such as a president. It was not guided by a group of lawmakers elected by the people. The country had only the Confederation people given the power to act on Congress, made up of delegates sent by each state. behalf of other These problems and others faced the delegates a large people at a meeting of meeting as they gathered for the federal convention in people with Philadelphia. a common purpose On Monday, May 14, 1787, Madison left Mrs. Mary House’s boardinghouse, where he was staying. He walked briskly through a light rain. At 5 feet 4 inches (1.6 meters) and barely 100 (45 kilograms) pounds, James Madison wasn’t a man people noticed. He was shy and spoke with a soft voice. But he carried big, bold ideas in his head. Madison was only thirty-six years old. Yet he had already served three terms in the Confederation Congress. In 1787 he was serving as a lawmaker in Virginia’s state government.

James Madison was one of seven delegates sent to the convention by the state of Virginia.

8 On his walk through Philadelphia, Madison met up with Washington. They walked together, heading for the same place. People gawked at Washington as he strode down the street. More than 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, he towered over most men of the day. His hands and feet were unusually large. But it wasn’t just his size that made people stare. Washington was the most important man in the United States. During the Revolutionary War, Washington had commanded the Continental Army, the colonial fighting force. After eight years of war, Washington led his troops to victory. He left the army in 1783, but everyone still called him General.

9 Who Timeline What 1775 The Revolutionary War between the American colonies and Great Where Britain begins. 1776 On July 4, the Confederation Congress adopts the Why Declaration of Independence. 1777 When The Confederation Congress adopts the Articles of Confederation. How 1781 The British army surrenders at the last big battle of the Revolutionary Who War. 1783 What The Revolutionary War ends when the United States and Great Where Britain sign the Treaty of Paris. 1786 State delegates begin planning a Why federal convention to discuss the Articles of Confederation. When 1787 In January angry farmers How attack the Springfield (Massachusetts) Armory during Shays’s Rebellion. Who In May delegates gather in Philadelphia for the federal What convention. Where Why When How 44 Who

On May 29, Edmund Randolph presents the Virginia Plan. William Paterson What presents the New Jersey Plan on June 15. In July, convention delegates agree to Where the Great Compromise. The Committee of Detail begins preparing a draft of the U.S. Constitution. Why In September convention delegates reject George Mason and Elbridge When Gerry’s suggestion for a bill of rights. The convention adopts the Constitution. How In December Delaware becomes the first state to ratify the Constitution. Who 1788 In June New Hampshire becomes What the ninth state to ratify it. The Constitution is signed into law. 1789 Where George Washington is unanimously chosen as first president of the United Why States. 1791 When The Constitution is amended to include the Bill of Rights. How 1793 George Washington is unanimously elected for a second term as U.S. president. Who 1956 The East Room of Independence Hall was restored to look as it did in 1787. What Where Why When 45 How Source Notes 7 Alexander Hamilton, letter to James Duane, September 3, 1780, quoted in Richard Haesly, The Constitutional Convention (San Diego: Greenhaven, 2002), 51. 25 Catherine Drinker Bowen, Miracle at Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention May to September 1787 (Boston: Little Brown, 1966), 47. 32 Roger Sherman, quoted in Richard Beeman, Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution (New York: Random House, 2009), 150. 42 Merrill D. Peterson, ed., James Madison: A Biography in His Own Words, vol. I (New York: Newsweek, 1974), 131. 42 ibid.

Selected Bibliography Beeman, Richard. Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution. New York: Random House, 2009. Bowen, Catherine Drinker. Miracle at Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention May to September 1787. Boston: Little Brown, 1966. Collier, Christopher, and James Lincoln Collier. Decision in Philadelphia: The Constitution Convention of 1787. New York: Random House, 1986. Haesly, Richard, ed. The Constitutional Convention. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002. Hauptly, Denis J. “A Convention of Delegates”: The Creation of the Constitution. New York: Atheneum, 1987. Kurland, Philip B., and Ralph Lerner, eds. The Founders’ Constitution. 2000. http:// press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders (April 23, 2010). LeVert, Suzanne. The Constitution. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2003. Peterson, Merrill D., ed. James Madison: A Biography in His Own Words. Vol. I. New York: Newsweek, 1974. Stewart, David O. The Summer of 1787: The Men Who Invented the Constitution. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2007. Willis, Garry. James Madison. New York: Holt, 2002.

46 Further Reading and Websites Catrow, David. We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States. New York: Dial, 2002. Illustrated with cartoons, this fun book tells the story of how three kids and a dog explore the meaning of the Preamble to the Constitution. Cheney, Lynne. We the People: The Story of Our Constitution. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2008. With lively illustrations, this book covers the events from the end of the Revolutionary War through the Constitutional Convention. The Constitution for Kids http://www.usconstitution.net/constkids4.html This site includes pictures of the U.S. Constitution, the history of the document, and information on issues such as slavery and states’ rights. Constitution: Travel Back in History http://www.congressforkids.net/Constitution_delegates.htm This site contains information about what happened at the convention and how the U.S. Constitution works. It also features questions to think about and a list of books to read. Feldman, Ruth Tenzer. How Congress Works. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Company, 2004. See how the modern U.S. Congress operates under the rules set down in the Constitution. Mitchell, Barbara. Father of the Constitution: A Story about James Madison. Minneapolis: Millbrook Press, 2004. Mitchell offers an introduction to the life of James Madison, one of the Framers of the Constitution. The National Constitutional Center: Founders http://constitutioncenter.org/ncc_edu_Founders.aspx Click on short biographies of each of the delegates who attended the convention. This site also contains a map of the thirteen states and surrounding territories. Sherrow, Victoria. Benjamin Franklin. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 2002. Learn about Franklin’s childhood, his inventions and writings, and how he helped shape the new United States of America. Sobel, Syl. The U.S. Constitution and You. Hauppauge, New York: Barron’s, 2001. This book tells how the Constitution works and how it protects the rights of every U.S. citizen, even kids! Travis, Cathy. Constitution Translated for Kids. Austin, TX: Synergy Books: 2006. This book translates the Constitution sentence by sentence, with the original document in one column and the same text in simple language in a second column.

47 Index Articles of Confederation, 4–7, 10, New Jersey Plan, 27–30 17–18, 21, 23, 25, 28 Paterson, William, 27–28 Bill of Rights, 38, 41 Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall), 10, 12–15, 24, 39 Confederation Congress, 8, 21, 23 Connecticut Compromise (Great Randolph, Edmund, 18, 22–23, 35, 39 Compromise), 33 Revolutionary War, 6, 9–11, 17–20, 34 Constitutional Convention, 30 Senate, 22, 25, 28, 30, 32, 37 Declaration of Independence, 10–11, 15 Shays’s Rebellion, 20–21 Sherman, Roger, 15, 32 East Room, 12, 14–15, 17, 24, 30, 39, slavery, 26–27, 32 42 Supreme Court, 28 electoral college, 38 Three-Fifths Compromise, 32 federal government, 7–8, 17, 21–24, 27–28 U.S. Congress, 24, 28–29, 33, 36–37 Franklin, Benjamin, 6, 10–12, 14–15, U.S. Constitution, 36–41 30–32, 39–40 U.S. president, 8, 13, 15, 22, 24, 28, 33–34, 37 House of Representatives, 22, 25, 28 Valley Forge, 34–35 Jackson, William, 13, 39, 42 Virginia Plan, 22–23, 25–30

Madison, James, 6, 8–11, 13, 22, Washington, George, 6, 9–11, 13, 24, 28–29, 40–42 26, 30, 34, 39–40 Mason, George, 25, 38–39 Wilson, James, 15, 33, 35, 37–39 Morris, Gouverneur, 38

Photo Acknowledgments The images in this book are used with the permission of: National Archives, Constitution of the United States, backgrounds throughout book; © iStockphoto.com/DNY59, p. 1; © iStockphoto.com/sx70, pp. 3 (top), 7 (top), 11 (top), 15 (bottom), 16 (bottom), 17 (top), 21, (bottom), 29 (top), 31 (top), 32 (top), 41 (top); © iStockphoto. com/Ayse Nazli Deliormanli, p. 3 (bottom), 43 (left); © iStockphoto.com/Serdar Yagci (notebook background), pp. 4-5, 43; © Bill Hauser/Independent Picture Service, pp. 5, 9, 13 (inset), 19, 35 (inset); © Nikreates/Alamy, p. 6; © Stock Montage/Getty Images, p. 7 (bottom); Library of Congress, pp. 8 (LC-USZ62-16960), 22 (bottom, LC-D416-9861); © Huntington Library/SuperStock, p. 10; © SuperStock, pp. 12, 30; © iStockphoto.com/ Talshiar (GPS), pp. 13, 35 (top); © Andre Jenny/Alamy, p. 14; © North Wind Picture Archives, p. 15 (top), 26; The Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP), Old Indian Queen Tavern – General View, (Bb 862 Ev15 51), p. 16 (top); The Granger Collection, New York, pp. 18, 20, 21 (top), 25, 36; © iStockphoto.com/Andrey Pustovoy (phone), pp. 22, 28, 39, 40; National Archives, pp. 22 (inset), 44 (top); © JJM Stock Photography/Travel/Alamy, p. 24; © Hulton Archive/Getty Images, pp. 27, 32, 38; Library of Congress, Manuscript Division (0059.01.00), p. 28 (inset); © age fotostock/SuperStock, p. 31 (bottom); © Smithsonian Art Museum, Washington, DC/Art Resource, NY, p. 33; © Pictorial Press/Alamy, p. 34; © Boltin Picture Library/The Bridgeman Art Library, pp. 37, 45; © J. McGrail/ClassicStock/The Image Works, p. 39 (inset); © Vespasian/Alamy, p. 40 (inset); © MPI/Stringer/ Hulton Archive/Getty Images, p. 43 (right); © Art Resource, NY, p. 44 (bottom). Front cover: © SuperStock. Back cover background: National Archives, Constitution of the United States.

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