Writing the Constitution

Writing the Constitution

A constitution:

• is a set of written laws

• tells how a country should be ruled

• tells how a leader is chosen

• has to be agreed on

The American Constitution

the Americans were the first to write a set of rules and create their own government.

Multiple Choice

Did Britain have a constitution?

• Yes

• No

Constitutional Convention

In May of 1787, James Madison of Virginia traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to meet with leaders from most of the other states. 

Constitutional Convention

A convention is a meeting. So the Constitutional Convention was a meeting, held in Philadelphia, to figure out how to create a new American government. 

Constitutional Convention

George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Benjamin Franklin also traveled to Philadelphia. These men needed to figure out how a new American government would work, and what powers it would have.  

Multiple Select

Who were two of the people at the Constitutional Convention?

• George Washington

• Benjamin Franklin

• Donald Trump

• Joe Biden

Philadelphia Pennsylvania

The leaders at the meeting decided to keep their talks a secret. They didn’t want anyone finding out about the things they said before they had a chance to really make up their minds. So they met in a room inside what is now called Independence Hall and nailed the windows shut! 

Independence Hall

Back then, there wasn’t any air conditioning. And that summer turned out to be very hot. The leaders inside Independence Hall were hot, and sometimes angry, as they didn’t always agree with one another. Someone said that it was hard to tell if the men were sweating because they were hot or because they were angry. 

Finally, on September 17, 1787, the state leaders finished their work and signed what they called the Constitution of the United States. It was a plan for a new system of government. 

The creation of the constitution

was important because it meant the new country now had a

plan for the new American government. 

Open Ended

Why was writing the constitution important?