Creating the United States

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Creating the United States Constitution  |  Convention and Ratification

The Virginia Plan (056.01.02)

The Virginia Plan
“The Virginia Plan of Government” in James Madison. Notes of Debates in the Federal Constitutional Convention, May 29, 1787. Manuscript. James Madison Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (056.01.02)
[Digital ID#us0056_01]

The New Jersey Plan (057.01.02)

The New Jersey Plan
The New Jersey Plan of Government in James Madison’s notes of the Constitutional Convention, June 15, 1787. Manuscript. James Madison Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (057.01.02)

Franklin Soothes Anger (058.01.01)

Franklin Soothes Anger
Benjamin Franklin. Draft speech, [June 11, 1787]. Manuscript. Benjamin Franklin Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (058.01.00)
[Digital ID# us0058_01p1]

“Great Compromise” Saves the Convention (59)

“Great Compromise” Saves the Convention
James Madison’s notes on the Constitutional Convention, July 16, 1787. Manuscript. James Madison Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (59)
[Digital ID# us0059tt_1 – us0059tt_3]

William Paterson Defends New Jersey Plan (59.01.00)

William Paterson Defends New Jersey Plan
William Paterson. Notes for Speeches in Convention, June 16, 1787. Manuscript. William Paterson Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (59.01.00)
[Digital ID# us0059_01p1]

Committee of Detail (061.03.00)

Committee of Detail
Draft United States Constitution: Report of the Committee of Detail, ca. August 6, 1787. Facsimile of printed document with annotations by Convention Secretary William Jackson. William Johnson Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (061.03.00)
[Digital ID # us0061_03]

The Report of the Committee of Style (062.04.00)

Report of the Committee of Style
Draft United States Constitution: Reports of the Committee of Style, September 8–15, 1787. Printed document with annotations by Charles Cotesworth Pinckney. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney Family Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (062.04.01-062.04.04)
[Digital ID# us0062_04-us0062_04p3]

Washington’s Frustrations at the Convention (63.1)

Washington’s Frustrations at the Convention
George Washington diary entry, September 17, 1787. Manuscript. George Washington Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (063.01.00)
[Digital ID# us0063_01]

“Monarchy or a Republic?” (63.02.00)

“Monarchy or a Republic?”
James McHenry. Diary, September 18, 1787. Manuscript. James McHenry Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (63.02.00)
[Digital ID# us0063_02p1]

Opposition to the Constitution (64.1)

Opposition to the Constitution
George Mason. “Objections to the Constitution of Government Formed by the Convention,” ca. September 17, 1787.  Manuscript document. George Washington Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (64.00.01)
[Digital ID# us0064_1; also us0064]

Madison Defends the Constitution (68.03.00)

Madison Defends Constitution
Publius (pseudonym for James Madison). The Federalist. No. X in the New York Daily Advertiser, November 22, 1787. Serial and Government Publications Division (68.03.00)
[Digital ID# qcdata/treasures/vc6.7a]

The Federalist Papers

The Federalist Papers
The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution. 2 vols. New York: J. and A. McLean, 1788. Thomas Jefferson Library, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (66.00.01)
[Digital ID# us0066–us0066_4]

Jefferson’s Concern about Method of Electing President (67)

Jefferson’s Concern about Method of Electing President
Letter from Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, November 13, 1787. Manuscript. Thomas Jefferson Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (67)
[Digital ID# us0067]

Early Optimism of Acceptance of New Constitution

Early Optimism of Acceptance of New Constitution
Letter from Samuel Powel to George Washington, November 13, 1787. Manuscript. George Washington Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (67.01.00)
[Digital ID# us0067_01p1]

Conflict in Ratification of the Constitution (68)

Conflict in Ratification of the Constitution
Amos Doolittle. The Looking Glass for 1787. [New Haven]: 1787. Engraving with watercolor. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress (68)
[Digital ID# ppmsca-17522]

New York Parade to Support the New Federal Constitution

New York Parade to Support the New Federal Constitution
Order of procession, in honor of the Constitution of the United States . . . by order of the Committee of Arrangements, Richard Platt, chairman,  July 23 [1788]. New York: 1788.  Printed broadside. Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (68.01.00) 
[Digital ID# us0068_02]

Alexander Hamilton Defends the New Constitution (66.01.00)

Alexander Hamilton Defends the New Constitution
[Alexander Hamilton]. Number LXVIII. The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution. 2 vols. New York: J. and A. McLean, 1788. Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (66.01.00)
[Digital ID # us0066_01]

Convention Rejects Franklin's Proposed Daily Prayer (058.01.02)

Convention Rejects Franklin’s Proposed Daily Prayer
Benjamin Franklin. Draft of a speech, June 28, 1787. Manuscript. Benjamin Franklin Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress (058.01.02)
[Digital ID # us0058_01p2]

Federal Constitution Ratified by Virginia (071.03.00)

Federal Constitution Ratified by Virginia
“Ratification of the New Constitution by the Convention of Virginia” in Supplement to the Independent Journal, July 2, 1778. New York: J. and A. McLean. Broadside. Constitutional Convention Broadside Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (071.03.00)
[Digital ID # us0071_03]

James Madison Defends the Constitution (066.02.00)

James Madison Defends the Constitution
[James Madison]. Number XIV. The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution. 2 vols. New York: J. and A. McLean, 1788. Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (066.02.00)
[Digital ID # us0066_02]

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