The Philadelphia Convention

The Constitutional Convention began in the early summer of 1787. The doors to Philadelphia's State House, where the Constitutional Convention was held, were always guarded. Only the official delegates to the constitution were allowed inside.

Each delegate at the Convention had agreed ahead of time not to discuss business with outsiders. They knew they were facing difficult decisions. The delegates wanted to meet in private to settle their differences and form their ideas for the new government

They did not want the public to be allowed to judge their ideas until they were finished.

Although official records of the Convention proceedings were kept, James Madison kept his own notes. The notes were kept secret until after his death in 1836. From his notes, we know much about the Convention.

Finally, as the summer ended, the hard work of the Convention also came to a close. All that remained was for the states to agree to the new document.