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Center for Civics Education
Dr. Jo Ellen Chatham
Director, Center for Civics Education
949-214-3200
[email protected]
Convention: A Daily Journal is a day-by-day journal of the 1787 Constitutional Convention convened by twelve of the original thirteen states to amend the Articles of Confederation and create a “more perfect union.” It chronicles the daily activities of the Convention, profiles the delegates and their interactions with each other, and looks back to life in America in the 1780s. Writing in the first person, the story is told from an “observer” hearing events as told in contemporary newspaper accounts and delegates’ personal notes and letters.
By Center for Civics Education Posted on 9/10/2020 - 4 minute read
As the Committee of Style moves forward with its work, the Convention continued holding its daily sessions in the East Room of the Pennsylvania State House. For the last week, the weather in Philadelphia has been cool and comfortable, but it is turning warm again and expected to be hot tomorrow and the delegates are anxious to complete their work and go home. Over the weekend, a flurry of letters hit the post roads.
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By Center for Civics Education Posted on 9/9/2020 - 4 minute read
On Friday, Jonas Phillips drafted and delivered a letter addressed to His Excellency the President and Honorable Members of the Convention Assembled. Born in Germany in 1736, Phillips immigrated to the British colony of South Carolina when he was twenty years old, working as an indentured servant to pay his passage. After completing his indenture and becoming a freeman three years later, he moved to New York, became a merchant, and married Rebecca Mendez Machado. Eventually Jonas and Rebecca had twenty-one children.
By Center for Civics Education Posted on 9/8/2020 - 4 minute read
At the close of today’s session, the Constitutional Convention reached a critical milestone, but not before completing consideration of the proposals offered by the Committee on Postponed Parts.
By Center for Civics Education Posted on 9/7/2020 - 4 minute read
Having agreed on the critical issue of choosing the executive, now called the President and Vice President, the Convention resumed consideration of other details pertaining to the executive department presented by the Committee on Postponed Parts.
By Center for Civics Education Posted on 9/6/2020 - 4 minute read
After a flurry of motions, some approved, many defeated, the Convention finally agreed on the mode and manner of electing the President and Vice President of the United States.
By Center for Civics Education Posted on 9/5/2020 - 4 minute read
David Brearley opened today’s session with “a further report” from the Committee of Postponed Parts,” referred to as the “Committee of Eleven” in James Madison’s notes. Like yesterday, a robust debate on how the President is to be elected consumed a considerable amount of the delegates’ time. However, before that debate resumed, the Convention approved several of the Committee’s recommendations.
By Center for Civics Education Posted on 9/4/2020 - 4 minute read
This morning, David Brearley, chairman of the Committee on Postponed Parts, made a second partial report. This time, the list of proposals is not only detailed, it is lengthy.
By Center for Civics Education Posted on 9/3/2020 - 4 minute read
On Saturday, the Convention began its session by reading several propositions recommended by the Committee on Postponed Parts, but no action was taken on any of them. This morning, the Committee presented several more, setting the pace for the days to come. The Committee will not issue a final report, but instead, a series of propositions emanating from its on-going meetings.
By Center for Civics Education Posted on 9/2/2020 - 4 minute read
The weather is finally turning. Hot, humid, sultry days have given way to cooler, drier weather, marking the transition from summer to autumn. Yesterday it rained, confining most of the delegates to their lodgings, writing letters and conferring with their colleagues about the final decisions to be made before their work is complete. David Brearley’s Committee on Postponed Parts is hard at work, preparing for tomorrow’s session.
By Center for Civics Education Posted on 9/1/2020 - 4 minute read
Before adjourning yesterday’s session of the Convention, a Committee on Postponed Parts was approved, charged with examining “such parts of the Constitution as have been postponed, and such parts of Reports as have not been acted on” and making recommendations to the full Convention. “Postponed parts” include the power of Congress to make war, impose taxes, authorize patents and copyrights, and other undefined powers. Plans for the national “seat of government,” or at least the conditions underlying such plans, had been postponed and no provisions have been made for managing relations with Native American tribes.
For more information, please contact the Director:
Dr. Jo Ellen Chatham Director, Center for Civics Education [email protected] 949-214-3200