Broken Promises and Compromises: From the Articles of the Confederation to the Constitution

How did the U.S. Constitution, our framework of government for over 200 years, last so long? This course will explore that question by examining the economic and cultural climate after the American Revolution and analyzing the failures of the Articles of Confederation. We will then investigate the issues facing the delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787, focusing on how the city and the founders' team-building skills contributed to its success. Key compromises from the constitutional debates will be discussed, including those regarding small versus large states, North versus South, slavery, economics, representation, and the conflict between "the worthy and the licentious." The course will conclude with an analysis of the ratification process and its lasting effects, such as the rise of political parties and the addition of the Bill of Rights.