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

As the summer wore on, debates intensified over issues such as choosing a president, powers of congress, and slavery.

  • Independence National Historical Park

    Article 1: August 16, 1787: The Powers of Congress

    Drawing of a bald ealge with outstretched wings perched atop a half sphere.

    The Convention started going through the powers that the draft Constitution explicitly granted to the United States Congress. While there was extensive debate over whether Congress should be able to create paper money and tax exports, several important measures passed unanimously without debate. Read more

  • Independence National Historical Park

    Article 2: August 17, 1787: Rebellion and War

    Trumbull's scene of the Battle of Bunker Hill.

    The Convention wrestled with one of the most dangerous responsibilities that resides in government: the power of the sword. Read more

  • Independence National Historical Park

    Article 3: August 18, 1787: More Power to Congress

    Revolutionary war solidier in white uniforms and blue jackets firing in a line.

    The Convention took several steps to dramatically increase the already expansive powers of the United States Congress. Perhaps most significantly, the Convention gave Congress the power to create a standing army and moved in the direction of letting Congress control state militias. Read more

  • Independence National Historical Park

    Article 4: August 19, 1787: Recess

    Relaxing garden scene with a group of people sitting on a bench and a cat sauntering past.

    Despite the impatience of many delegates, the Convention was adjourned today after a week of significant progress. Read more

  • Independence National Historical Park

    Article 5: August 20, 1787: Necessary and Proper

    Sketch of a man sitting at a table with a tricornered hat reading a piece of paper.

    The delegates spent half a day arguing over an almost never used part of the Constitution—the section defining treason—and almost no time debating one of the Constitution’s most controversial and significant sections, which gave Congress the ability “to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested, by this Constitution, in the Government of the United States.” Read more

  • Independence National Historical Park

    Article 6: August 21, 1787: The Slave Trade

    Two white men grabbing a black man to take away on a boat.

    After nasty arguments over direct taxation and taxation of exports, the day ended with an explosive exchange over whether Congress should be permitted to ban the importation of enslaved Africans. Read more

  • Independence National Historical Park

    Article 7: August 22, 1787: Slavery in a Republic

    Enslaved people lying packed in a ship.

    The first half of this day continued the previous day’s debate over the slave trade, leading to the Convention’s longest debate over slavery. Read more

  • Independence National Historical Park

    Article 8: August 23, 1787: The Supreme Law of the Land

    Justice depicted as a person in a robe holding a sword.

    In a day otherwise filled with frustrating debates over militias and legislative powers, the Convention easily passed one of the most important passages in the entire Constitution. Read more

  • Independence National Historical Park

    Article 9: August 24, 1787: How to Choose a President

    Seal of the Office of the President of the United States.

    Not for the first time, the delegates wrestled with the almost insoluble problem of how to choose the President of the United States. Read more

  • Independence National Historical Park

    Article 10: August 25, 1787: The Slavery Compromise

    18th century ship on the high seas with sails open.

    The cost of gaining support for the Constitution from many of the southern states was now clear: the slave trade would be permitted to continue until at least the year 1808. Read more

  • Independence National Historical Park

    Article 11: August 26, 1787: A Day of Rest

    A busy market scene with people bustling around stalls.

    With the Convention adjourned for Sunday, the delegates could rest after a difficult week. Meanwhile, one of their most vocal members was quickly sliding into opposition to the Constitution he’d helped craft. Read more

  • Independence National Historical Park

    Article 12: August 27, 1787: Line by Line

    Two quill pens lying on a piece of paper.

    In a day with no major decisions, the delegates demonstrated their thoroughness and erudition as they worked out the powers of the executive and judiciary branches. Read more

  • Independence National Historical Park

    Article 13: August 28, 1787: Slogging On

    Portrait of Alexander Hamilton facing front-left wearing a black coat.

    Progress continued. While most delegates were eager to leave, one wanted to return before the Convention ended. Read more

  • Independence National Historical Park

    Article 14: August 29, 1787: A Bargain with Slavery

    Close up of Article 1 Section 9 of the engrossed Constitution of the United States.

    In a day marked by strong sectional divides (North vs. South, East vs. West), a deal held which permitted the slave trade to continue for at least another two decades. Read more

  • Independence National Historical Park

    Article 15: August 30, 1787: Self-governance

    Map of North America in 1787

    Post-revolutionary Americans agreed that just governance only came with the consent of the governed, but this value came in tension today. What if people in a state’s territory wanted to form a new state without their legislature’s consent? How many states should have to ratify the Constitution in order to make it binding, and what would happen to states that didn’t ratify? Read more

  • Independence National Historical Park

    Article 16: August 31, 1787: The Fountain of All Power

    Sketch of the base of a Roman fountain.

    In considering how the Constitution would be ratified, the Convention came firmly down on the side of the Constitution getting its legitimacy directly from the people of the United States and not from the state governments. Read more

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