Series: The Constitutional Convention: A Day by Day Account for July 16 to 31, 1787

Delegates to the Constitutional Convention began to find compromise in their continued effort to design new a framework of government.

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  Article 1: July 16, 1787: The Great Compromise Passes

  

  The Convention's most important compromise passed by the narrowest of margins. Read more

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  Article 2: July 17, 1787: The Supreme Law of the Land

  

  Having passed a major compromise the day before, the Convention could now make quicker progress. Several important measures passed regarding the Constitution's primacy over state laws and constitutions and regarding how the executive would function. Read more

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  Article 3: July 18, 1787: A Republican Form of Government

  

  The Convention made important progress creating the judicial branch and agreed on language giving the federal government the authority to suppress domestic insurrections. Read more

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  Article 4: July 19, 1787: The Guardian of the People

  

  On this day, it was now clear that the Convention was favoring creating an executive office of great power and importance. The delegates also determined that an electoral college would choose this national executive. Read more

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  Article 5: July 20, 1787: Impeachment

  

  After a lively debate, a solid majority of the delegates decided that the national executive should be impeachable. Read more

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  Article 6: July 21, 1787: Separation of Powers

  

  The delegates pondered the relationship between the branches of government: should the judiciary join the executive in vetoing legislation? Who should appoint federal judges: the national executive or the Senate? Read more

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  Article 7: July 22, 1787: Adjourned

  

  After a productive week, the Convention was in recess this Sunday. Read more

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  Article 8: July 23, 1787: Ratification

  

  The Convention decided that the means for ratifying the Constitution would be state conventions. The delegates also decided to create a committee to draft the Constitution. Read more

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  Article 9: July 24, 1787: Irresolution

  

  The Convention took a step backward when it undid a prior decision regarding how the President of the United States would be chosen. The resulting day would have been tedious and frustrating for the attendees. Read more

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  Article 10: July 25, 1787: Stuck

  

  Today was another day when the Convention could not resolve the difficult, interconnected issues concerning the appointment of the President of the United States. Read more

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  Article 11: July 26, 1787: A Last Debate before Adjourning

  

  After concluding (for the time being) the argument over how Presidents would be appointed, the Convention debated qualifications for government officers before adjourning to give the Committee of Detail time to draft the Constitution. Read more

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  Article 12: July 27, 1787: Adjourned

  

  The Convention was in recess while the Committee of Detail drafted the Constitution of the United States. Read more

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  Article 13: July 28, 1787: A Flight to Freedom

  

  While the Convention was in recess for the drafting of the Constitution, James Madison was trying to track down "Anthony," a man he had enslaved who had just fled for the second time. Read more

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  Article 14: July 29, 1787: Still in Recess

  

  The Convention continued its adjournment to allow for the drafting of the Constitution. Read more

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  Article 15: July 30, 1787: Gone Fishing

  

  As the recess continued, Madison attended to some personal affairs, Franklin went about Pennsylvania government business, and Washington went fishing. Read more

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  Article 16: July 31, 1787: A Stranger in Black

  

  A Revolutionary War veteran had a surprising encounter with a Convention delegate. Read more