In May 1787, in an atmosphere of crisis, delegates met in
Philadelphia to design a radically new form of government.
Distinguished historian Richard Beeman captures as never before the
dynamic of the debate and the characters of the men who labored
that historic summer. Virtually all of the issues in dispute—the
extent of presidential power, the nature of federalism, and, most
explosive of all, the role of slavery—have continued to provoke
conflict throughout our nation's history. This unprecedented book
takes readers behind the scenes to show how the world's most
enduring constitution was forged through conflict, compromise, and
fragile consensus. As Gouverneur Morris, delegate of Pennsylvania,
noted: "While some have boasted it as a work from Heaven, others
have given it a less righteous origin. I have many reasons to
believe that it is the work of plain, honest men."