Who Wrote the U.s. Constitution? (Six Questions of American History)

In May 1787, men from all over the United States arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on serious business. Just eleven years earlier, colonial leaders had met in Philadelphia to declare their independence from Great Britain. But now the young country was in trouble. The U.S. government was weak, and its guiding document—the Articles of Confederation—was failing. Throughout the summer of 1787, state representatives and leaders argued, shouted, and wrote and rewrote articles. By September, they had produced a new document, the U.S. Constitution. The Convention became a turning point in American history. But what were the new country’s problems? Who came up with the solutions? How did the states work out disagreements to create a new system of government? Discover the facts about the 1787 Convention and the writing of the Constitution.

Candice Ransom is the author of more than 120 books for children. Her books have won several awards and have been nominated to many state lists, including the William Allen White Award and the Texas Bluebonnet Award. She holds an MFA in writing for children from Vermont College and an MA in children's literature from Hollins University. She currently teaches at Hollins University, in the MA/MFA graduate program in children's literature. She lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia with her husband, Frank, and their cat, Winchester.