A Brilliant Solution : Inventing the American Constitution

In 1787, a group of lawyers and politicians, some famous and others just ordinary men, journeyed to Philadelphia, determined to create a more stable framework of government, hoping that it would last long enough to bring an end to the crisis. Delegates to the Constitutional Convention had no great expectations for the document they were fashioning. But somehow, in the amalgam of ideas, argument, and compromise, a great thing happened: A constitution and a form of government were created that have served us well. Revealing that the story of that ... summer in Philadelphia is more complicated and much more interesting than we have imagined, [the author] makes you feel as if you were there, listening to the arguments, getting to know the framers, and appreciating the difficult and critical decisions being made. Using history as a kind of time travel, [the author] takes the reader into the hearts and minds of the founders, explaining their mind-sets, their fears, and their very limited expectations.-Dust jacket. Read more... Abstract: In 1787, a group of lawyers and politicians, some famous and others just ordinary men, journeyed to Philadelphia, determined to create a more stable framework of government, hoping that it would last long enough to bring an end to the crisis. Delegates to the Constitutional Convention had no great expectations for the document they were fashioning. But somehow, in the amalgam of ideas, argument, and compromise, a great thing happened: A constitution and a form of government were created that have served us well. Revealing that the story of that ... summer in Philadelphia is more complicated and much more interesting than we have imagined, [the author] makes you feel as if you were there, listening to the arguments, getting to know the framers, and appreciating the difficult and critical decisions being made. Using history as a kind of time travel, [the author] takes the reader into the hearts and minds of the founders, explaining their mind-sets, their fears, and their very limited expectations.-Dust jacket

"Carol Berkin has now written the liveliest and most concise account yet of the adoption of the Constitution. With unflagging verve, she sweeps readers along as she introduces the players, canvasses the issues, and explains the critical decisions. And she manages the neat and difficult trick of presenting the framers of the Constitution as living, breathing, calculating politicians while simultaneously capturing the deep seriousness of their debates and achievements. The result is a sparkling, fast-paced, and always engaging introduction to the modern world's first great exercise in constitutional invention."—Jack N. Rakove, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of James Madison and the Creation of the American Republic

"A story all modern Americans need to know—the exciting and true tale of our nation's origins, as narrated by one of our best historians."—Professor Mary Beth Norton, Cornell University

Publishers Weekly

For the newly independent United States, the years just after the Revolution were the best of times and the worst of times: though the states celebrated their newfound freedom, they did not have a strong central government that would bind them together. Between 1776 and 1787, the proud new nation faced economic crisis, military weakness and interstate conflict problems so enormous they almost dashed all hopes for a future unified country. Yet, as historian Berkin so engagingly illustrates, James Madison, George Washington and a handful of others met in Philadelphia in 1787 to frame a creative answer to the political impasse. Berkin (First Generations: Women in Colonial America) wonderfully reveals the conflicts and compromises that characterized the drafting of the Constitution. She chronicles the development of the document itself, recording the details of each of the articles of the Constitution, for instance, and demonstrating the framers' belief in the primacy of the legislative branch. She also portrays the deep disagreements between Madison's Federalists and the states' rights advocates, such as George Mason and Edmund Randolph of Virginia, both of whom refused to sign the Constitution and swore to fight against its ratification in their state. Most important, Berkin emphasizes that the framers saw the Constitution as a working document, one that would require revision as the country grew. With the sensibilities of a novelist, Berkin tells a fast-paced story full of quirky and sympathetic characters, capturing the human dimensions of the now legendary first Constitutional Convention. (Sept.) Forecast: Berkin's wonderfully engaging book could take its place alongside Joseph Ellis's Founding Brothers and David McCullough's John Adams. Her role as commentator on the upcoming A&E series Founding Brothers will raise the book's profile still further. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

We Know And Love The Story Of The American Revolution, From The Declaration Of Independence To Cornwallis's Defeat. We Forget, Though, That The Articles Of Confederation And Our First Attempts At Self-government Were Disasters; The Post-revolutionary Confederation Slipped Quickly Into Factional Bickering And Economic Crisis. In 1787, A Group Of Lawyers And Politicians, Some Famous And Others Just Ordinary Men, Journeyed To Philadelphia, Determined To Create A More Stable Framework Of Government, Hoping That It Would Last Long Enough To Bring An End To The Crisis. Revealing That The Story Of That Amazing Summer In Philadelphia Is More Complicated And Much More Interesting Than We Have Imagined, Carol Berkin Makes You Feel As If You Were There, Listening To The Arguments, Getting To Know The Framers, And Appreciating The Difficult And Critical Decisions Being Made. Using History As A Kind Of Time Travel, Berkin Takes The Reader Into The Hearts And Minds Of The Founders, Explaining Their Mind-sets, Their Fears, And Their Very Limited Expectations. By Telling A Story That Is More Hallowed Than Understood, Berkin Brings Us Into The World Of Eighteenth-century America And Shows Us The Human Side Of A Great Accomplishment. The Call For A Convention -- Making Mr. Madison Wait -- A Gathering Of Demigods -- The Perils Of Power -- Schisms, Threats, And Compromises -- Debating The Presidency Once Again -- The Convention Ends -- The Battle For Ratification -- The Inauguration Of President George Washington. Carol Berkin. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [298]-300) And Index. Historian Carol Berkin's A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution is a rich narrative portrait of post-revolutionary America and the men who shaped its political future.'Just as the Constitution was a brilliant solution to the problems of the 1780s, Carol Berkin's book is a brilliant account of the making of that constitution. Written with great verve and clarity, it nicely captures all the contingency and unpredictability in the framing of the Constitution.'—Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gordon S. WoodThough the American Revolution is widely recognized as our nation's founding story, the years immediately following the war — when our government was a disaster and the country was in a terrible crisis — were in fact the most crucial in establishing the country's independence. The group of men who traveled to Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 had no idea what kind of history their meeting would make. But all their ideas, arguments, and compromises — from the creation of the Constitution itself, article by article, to the insistence that it remain a living, evolving document — laid the foundation for a government that has surpassed the founders'greatest hopes. Revisiting all the original historical documents of the period and drawing from her deep knowledge of eighteenth-century politics, Carol Berkin opens up the hearts and minds of America's founders, revealing the issues they faced, the times they lived in, and their humble expectations of success. "We know - and love - the story of the American Revolution, from the Declaration of Independence to Cornwallis's defeat. We forget, though, that the Articles of Confederation and our first attempts at self-government were disasters; the post-revolutionary Confederation slipped quickly into factional bickering and economic crisis. In 1787, a group of lawyers and politicians, some famous and others just ordinary men, journeyed to Philadelphia, determined to create a more stable framework of government, hoping that it would last long enough to bring an end to the crisis.". "Delegates to the Constitutional Convention had no great expectations for the document they were fashioning. But somehow, in the amalgam of ideas, argument and compromise, a great thing happened: A constitution and a form of government were created that have served us well.". "Revealing that the story of that amazing summer in Philadelphia is more complicated and much more interesting than we have imagined, Carol Berkin makes you feel as if you were there, listening to the arguments, getting to know the framers, and appreciating the difficult and critical decisions being made. Using history as a kind of time travel, Berkin takes the reader into the hearts and minds of the founders, explaining their mind-sets, their fears, and their very limited expectations."--BOOK JACKET. A rich narrative portrait of post-revolutionary America and the men who shaped its political future Though the American Revolution is widely recognized as our nation's founding story, the years immediately following the war—when our government was a disaster and the country was in a terrible crisis—were in fact the most crucial in establishing the country's independence. The group of men who traveled to Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 had no idea what kind of history their meeting would make. But all their ideas, arguments, and compromises—from the creation of the Constitution itself, article by article, to the insistence that it remain a living, evolving document—laid the foundation for a government that has surpassed the founders' greatest hopes. Revisiting all the original historical documents of the period and drawing from her deep knowledge of eighteenth-century politics, Carol Berkin opens up the hearts and minds of America's founders, revealing the issues they faced, the times they lived in, and their humble expectations of success. We know--and love--the story of the American Revolution, from the Declaration of Independence to Cornwallis's defeat. But our first government was a disaster and the country was in a terrible crisis. So when a group of men traveled to Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 to save a nation in danger of collapse, they had no great expectations for the meeting that would make history. But all the ideas, arguments, and compromises led to a great thing: a constitution and a government were born that have surpassed the founders' greatest hopes. Revisiting all the original documents and using her deep knowledge of eighteenth-century history and politics, Carol Berkin takes a fresh look at the men who framed the Constitution, the issues they faced, and the times they lived in. Berkin transports the listener into the hearts and minds of the founders, exposing their fears and their limited expectations of success. Our present federal government is a name, a shadow : the call for a convention Making Mr. Madison wait A gathering of demi-gods How far do you intend to go? : the perils of power I do not trust you, gentlemen : schisms, threats, and compromises Like "a trial of colours to a blind man" : debating the presidency once again I consent, sir, to this constitution because I expect no better : the convention ends The constitution is now before the judgment seat : the battle for ratification This great and good man : the inauguration of President George Washington.