Building Our Nation

The room is packed with men wearing heavy coats and wigs. Although it’s a hot September day in 1787, the windows are shut at this top-secret meeting. It’s stuffy and perhaps even a bit smelly. But the men won’t leave the room until they’ve accomplished their goal: to sign the U.S. Constitution.

Four months earlier, these delegates had been sent to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Each represented his home state at a meeting called the Constitutional Convention. Their job was to figure out how to build a strong national government for their new country.

The U.S. had gained its independence from Great Britain in 1783, but the 13 states weren’t very united. And the central government in place at the time was too weak to keep the new nation together. People disagreed on a solution, and fear and worry began to spread. What would happen to the U.S.?

The delegates helped save the country with the Constitution. They spent months sharing ideas and debating about what should be in the document. They didn’t always see eye to eye and often had to compromise. But by September 17, 1787, they had created a Constitution that most of them agreed on.

Get to know some of the leaders who shaped our nation by creating this historic document.