1. Writing the Constitution
1787 delegates met at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
Delegates from 12 of the 13 states were there
Most of the 55 delegates were opposed to writing the constitution

2. James Madison and Alexander Hamilton were convinced that country needed a strong central government.
Thomas Jefferson was not there
8 who signed the Declaration of Independence were there

3. The Constitutional Convention met for 4 months.
The 55 delegates were seldom all together at once because the weather was bad and travel was difficult.
About 35 delegates were present during the process of writing the Constitution.

4. The Constitution was signed by 39 of the 55 delegates on September 17, 1787
The Continental Congress received the proposed Constitution on September 20. It then voted to send the document to the state legislatures for ratification.
Some delegates, however, would not approve the Constitution when it was sent to the states for ratification until it included a bill of rights listing the individual rights of every citizen.

5. Twelve amendments, written by James Madison, were presented to the states for final approval.
Only ten were approved.
Those ten make up the Bill of Rights. They are also the first ten amendments to the Constitution.

6. The Constitution starts with a Preamble
Next come the articles sections
The final part of the Constitution is the Amendments section

8. First 3 articles deal with separation of powers.
Article 1 is Legislative Branch
Article 2 is Executive Branch
Article 3 is Judicial Branch

9. 7 Articles Preamble Article I Article II Article III Article IV
States the purpose of the Constitution
Creates the legislative branch
Creates the executive branch
Creates the judicial branch
Relations among the States
Amending the Constitution
National debts, supremacy of national
law, and oaths of office
Ratifying the Constitution
Preamble
Article I
Article II
Article III
Article IV
Article V
Article VI
Article VII

10. The Preamble
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.