Debating+the+Constitution

In 1787, from May until September, 55 men were sent from 12 states to do something about the problems among the States. For us today, their task is impossible to fully comprehend. All we can do is study their action and response to the issues over which they debated. This is the essence of this project. We will take on the character and perspective of one of the delegates and debate the issues as they would have in a simulated environment.

=Selecting and Studying a Delegate= In order to do this we must first select and study one of the delegates. In the table below is a state-by-state list of all of the delegates. Clicking on their name should bring you to a biography page. Use your Know Your Delegate handout to complete the necessary information (see a completed sample)

Selection is first come, first served. However, each state must be represented and so a second delegate from the same state cannot be picked until all states have been represented. Have two choices in mind from different states in case your first choice is unavailable. Come to me when you are ready.

Roger Sherman Oliver Ellsworth ||= Nathaniel Gorham Rufus King Elbridge Gerry Caleb Strong ||= William Blount Richard Dobbs Spaight Hugh Williamson William R. Davie Alexander Martin || Gunning Bedford, Jr. John Dickinson Richard Bassett Jacob Broom ||= John Langdon Nicholas Gilman ||= Benjamin Franklin Thomas Mifflin Robert Morris George Clymer Thomas Fitzsimons Jared Ingersoll James Wilson Gouverneur Morris || Abraham Baldwin William Houstoun William L. Pierce ||= William Livingston David Brearly (Brearley) William Paterson (Patterson) Jonathan Dayton William C. Houston ||= John Rutledge Charles Cotesworth Pinckney Charles Pinckney Pierce Butler || Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Daniel Carroll Luther Martin John F. Mercer ||= Alexander Hamilton John Lansing, Jr. Robert Yates ||= John Blair James Madison Jr. George Washington George Mason James McClurg Edmund J. Randolph George Wythe || Student/Delegate Reference
 * ~ Connecticut ||~ Massachusetts ||~ North Carolina ||
 * = William Samuel Johnson
 * ~ Delaware ||~ New Hampshire ||~ Pennsylvania ||
 * = George Read
 * ~ Georgia ||~ New Jersey ||~ South Carolina ||
 * = William Few
 * ~ Maryland ||~ New York ||~ Virginia ||
 * = James McHenry
 * ~ Rhode Island ||
 * Rhode Island ignored the request of the Confederation Congress to send delegates to the Philadelphia Convention. ||

=Meeting in Philadelphia= After we have all researched our delegates, we must practice "being" them. Using your completed Know Your Delegate handout, we will take some time to meet and greet the other delegates once we all arrive in Philadelphia, and before we get down to business.

After our meet-n'-greet, we need to determine