All illustrations by Moreno Chiacchiera
Building the Nation
Nearly 240 years ago, the country’s founders came together to create the U.S. government.
It was a hot September day in 1787. A group of men had gathered in a cramped room in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They were worried that spies might listen in. So they shut the windows and closed the curtains.
The men were on a top secret mission. They were putting the finishing touches on the U.S. Constitution. That document set up the nation’s government. It’s the same system we use today.
A New Plan
About four years earlier, America had officially gained its freedom from Great Britain. The United States was finally its own country. But the new nation wasn’t very united. Each of the 13 states passed its own laws. There wasn’t even a president.
So in May 1787, a group of 55 men met in Philadelphia. Each delegate represented his home state. The group wanted to create a strong government for the country.
The delegates had many different backgrounds. Some, like George Washington, were military leaders. Others were farmers or lawyers. Many had never even met. Would they be able to work together?
Talking It Out
Coming up with the rules for the new nation wasn’t easy. The men didn’t always agree. They went back and forth for nearly four months.
“There were a number of debates,” explains Julie Silverbrook. She works at the National Constitution Center.
In the end, the men compromised on many key details. By September 17, 1787, they had a plan most agreed on.
The Constitution the men created divided the government into three branches (see below). Each branch had its own jobs.
Two days later, the document was printed in a Philadelphia newspaper. The secret was finally out.
Today the Constitution is one of the most important documents in U.S. history. And each year on September 17, Americans celebrate Constitution Day.
1. What does the author mean when she writes that “the new nation wasn’t very united” when it first gained its freedom?
2. What does the word compromised mean? Why did the delegates sometimes have to compromise?
3. According to the sidebar, “The Three Branches of Government,” what is the main job of the legislative branch?
