Looking back at America

Following the American Revolution the thirteen states operated under the Articles of Confederation. Men of the stature of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams urged that a Constitutional Convention be called to consider a new document for the new country of the United States of America; a Constitution. In May of 1787 the Convention meet in Philadelphia. After much haggling and many compromises the Constitution of the United States was drafted and adopted by the Convention on September 17, 1787. In order for it to become "thee" Constitution of the United States of America it had to be ratified by no less than nine of the thirteen original states.

Ratification was not an easy process and arguments pro and con were waged vigorously. In response to this process the Federalist Papers were written and published under the name of Publius; these papers were the ablest written to try and convince the state of New York to ratify the new Constitution. They appeared in the New York journals between October, 1787 and April, 1788. It was not until 1804 that their true authors were named by Alexander Hamilton just before his duel and his subsequent death at the hands of Aaron Burr. Those authors of the 85 letters were Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison.

If you really want to get a "feel" for what the Founding Fathers wanted for this new country Google "Constitution of the United States of America" and read it; it is not that long. Also read "The Federalist...1787 - 1788" and you will get a true insiders interpretation of what the Constitution was intended to mean and connote to the people of the United States.