The very future of the nation was at stake...In the summer of 1787, fifty-five of the leading figures in the recently independent United States of America travelled to Philadelphia as delegates to the Federal Convention to address problems arising from implementation of the Articles of Confederation as the governing document establishing federal authority and the rights of the newly formed states. The very future of the nation was at stake. Despite the sweltering heat that summer, the windows were kept shut and locked, lest outsiders hear what was being said. This handsome, affordable paperback edition contains James Madison's entire narrative of the stirring historic debates that led to the creation of one of the free world's most respected documents: the Constitution of the United States. Known today as the 'Father of the Constitution', Madison clearly and precisely chronicles the often-heated discussions, and his is the primary record of the events that established the United States government, its division of power, and ultimately the character of American democracy. Through Madison's words we understand the essence of the personalities involved and the conflict and compromise that was inherent in the drafting of the document. "The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787" includes Madison's notes and remarks as well as other requisite information for interpreting the events of that historic year. The work is divided into three parts: "Antecedents of the Federal Convention of 1787", which presents the complete text of the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation; "The Federal Convention of 1787", a day-by-day description of the debates surrounding the formation of the Constitution; and, "The Constitution, Its Ratification, and Amendments", which presents the complete text of the Constitution, documents attesting to its ratification, and the Bill of Rights. With a preface by University of Richmond historian Robert Alley, this landmark work is absolutely indispensable for historians, scholars, and all those who treasure America's heritage.