2. We the People An Introduction to Our Constitution George Washington Ben Franklin James Madison Alexander Hamilton Click to begin

3. We the People What is the Constitution? The Constitution of the United States is the basic law of our nation – like the rules for a game, only these rules are for the government, and all citizens must play. The Constitution sets up the rules for how laws are made, and who will make the laws.

4. We the People When was the Constitution written? The Constitution of the United States was written in 1787. It has lasted over 200 years, longer than any other written constitution.

5. We the People Who wrote the Constitution? The men who wrote the Constitution were delegates from the original 13 colonies, and leaders who helped win the Revolutionary War. delegates Rhode Island refused to send a delegate. The other twelve colonies elected 74 delegates, but only 55 showed up.

6. We the People delegate a representative chosen to speak and act for a group

7. We the People What were the delegates like? They were all men, and they were far richer that the average person who lived at the time. The youngest delegate was Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey, who was 27. The oldest delegate was Ben Franklin, who was 81. Half of them were lawyers. All of them were well known by their colonies.

8. Who were some of the delegates? We the People George WashingtonBen Franklin James MadisonAlexander Hamilton

9. We the People Where did the delegates meet? The delegates met at the Pennsylvania State House, or Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

10. We the People Why is the Constitution called a miracle? The real miracle of the Constitution is that the men who wrote it had so much respect for the need of the people to control and change their government.

11. For more information on the Constitution visit the library or one of the following websites: http://www.constitutioncenter.org http://bensguide.gpo.gov http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org http://www.marcopolo- education.org/MarcoGrams/Sep2005.html We the People End Show