Becoming America: The Constitutional Convention of 1787

Preservation of our founding documents and records of debates and other commentaries on the purposes and intentions of the Founders are essential to both our past and present application of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They are more than memories of the past, they continue to be the foundation upon which our government and liberties rest. In this final episode of Becoming America, David Ferriero, Archivist of the United States, discusses the role of the National Archives in safeguarding the original US Constitution and other founding documents. He explains how the Archives work alongside other government agencies, how ordinary citizens can gain access to historical documents, and how the Archives instill civic literacy in young people. Finally, the hosts cap off the show by sharing their reverence and respect for the Constitution, what inspired Judge Gray to write a musical about the Constitutional Convention, and what being an American means to them. 

“America is perfect idea; the United States is a work in progress.” This has been a constant theme during our “Becoming America” series. In today's society, more diverse than ever, how do the ideas that motivated our Founders stand up? Does the Constitution still resonate with the people? This episode features everyday Americans sharing their thoughts about the Constitution, which section means the most to them, and what it means to be an American. Tune in as they provide brief individual glimpses of their views of our country's ideas of liberty, opportunity, security and individual freedom.

The Preamble of the Constitution contains its most revolutionary statement, beginning with the remarkable statement that the new government would be based on the authority of “We the People.” In this episode of “Becoming America,” Dr. Jo Ellen Chatham, Judge Jim Gray, and Bijan Kian interview Judge Andrew Guilford. Retired after serving for nearly 14 years as a United States Federal District Court Judge, Judge Guilford is one of only two district judges in his region to have been invited to sit on the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals - the Ninth Circuit. In this episode, he addresses the purpose and history of the Preamble and whether it has legal authority. He also addresses a critical modification of the Preamble approved during the Constitutional Convention and the meaning of the concept of American exceptionalism. Finally, just who are "the people" in the Preamble and how do we transmit our constitutional values to the next generation? Judge Guilford answers these questions, so don't miss out and join us in this great conversation!

Fortunately, there are thousands of documents recording the drafting and ratification of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Letters, journals, newspaper articles, political pamphlets and much more provide a comprehensive account – including from both sides - those who favored and those who disapproved of the Constitution. Our guest in this episode has been shaping the conversation about our American history through his work with the Ashbrook Center. Dr. Gordon Lloyd is the Robert and Katheryn Dockson Professor of Public Policy at Pepperdine University and the creator of four highly regarded websites on the origin of the Constitution. He joins Dr. Jo Ellen Chatham, Judge Jim Gray, and Bijan Kian to share with us his work and wisdom surrounding the birth of our Constitution. Dr. Gordon Lloyd shares with us the compromises made during the Convention, the new relationship between the states and a new national government, and the power of the people. Tune in to this conversation to get a deeper understanding of what William Gradstone, the great English Prime Minister, described as the greatest documents ever written by the hand of man.

It can be lonesome at the top, especially when you lead not only a country but a country at the cusp of transformation. At the creation of the United States, there was one indispensable man. He commanded the Continental Army through the Revolutionary War, presided over the Constitutional Convention, and was elected to be our first President. We all know him. His name George Washington. Dr. Jo Ellen Chatham, Judge Jim Gray, and Bijan Kian have prepared a unique interview for us, diving deep into the insights and experience of the country's first Commander-in-Chief! Why did General Washington believe the Articles of Confederation were deficient? Why was he hesitant to attend the Constitutional Convention? What about his relationships with James Madison, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson? Why did he believe a Bill of Rights was not needed? Rather than speculate, we will take a trip back in time and ask General Washington himself to answer these and other questions. This is one conversation you will not want to miss!

Why did our Founding Fathers ignore the issue of slavery when crafting the Constitution? To understand this better, we need to put everything in context with the times. The incipient federation was at risk of many Southern states not joining if slavery was outlawed, and many of the delegates themselves were slave owners. But to their credit, they did make the institution much less brutal. To help us gain a better understanding of this prominent and often controversial sticking point of American history, Judge Jim Gray, Professor Jo Ellen Chatham, and “The American”, Bijan Kian are joined by Major General James Williams of the US Marine Corps. Join in and learn why the word “slavery” wasn’t included in the Constitution and how that decision embodied our nation builders’ principles of personal liberty.

The Constitutional Convention was by no means a smooth proceeding. The delegates represented a wide array of interests and opinions and argued about almost every provision before coming to a near-unanimous conclusion before the Convention adjourned. Among the most hotly contested issues were the relationship between the states and the new national government and the powers assigned to the three branches of the national government. In addition, what checks and balances would be included to limit the powers of government? Judge Jim Gray, Dr. Jo Ellen Chatham and Bijan Kian are joined again by former Congressman Tom Campbell, this time to discuss checks and balances as well as how they have been ignored or violated at various times in our history. Tune in for a great tour back in time and learn how the Founders tried to limit the power of government through what we call separation of powers and checks and balances.

Many critical issues divided the delegates to the Constitutional Convention. One of the most contentious was how much power the central government should wield. Nearly everyone at the table agreed that The Articles of Confederation were weak and that giving the central government more authority was essential. But how much power should that central authority have and how should it be organized? Should each state be represented equally or should representation be based on population? Should the central government be small and limited in scope or should it be expanded to act broadly in the interests of all of the states? How could the interests of individual states be balanced against the interests of the states and the people collectively? To consider how the Founders approached these problems, Judge Jim Gray, Professor Jo Ellen Chatham, and “The American”, Bijan Kian had a conversation with Trevor Burrus, a research fellow at the Cato Institute. Tune in to listen to his insights on this power struggle, as well as other points of disagreement, including whether a Bill of Rights was necessary.

We all learned from school that the Constitutional Convention was held in May of 1787 within of what is now known as Independence Hall. But how much do we know about the process the Founding Fathers followed in those crucial four months? Dr. Bryan M. Santin is here to discuss how the Constitutional Convention operated. He explains the major rules set in place, the number of delegates present, the purpose of action committees, and how ratification debates worked. Dr. Bryan also highlights the most notable players who made their mark in the convention, from George Washington's groundbreaking election as the first President to George Mason's indomitable spirit to fight for the Bill of Rights.

The First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees the right of every citizen to religious freedom. While the Founders held varying religious opinions, they agreed that every individual must the right to hold their own religious beliefs and practices without government interference. Fast forward to the present time, Americans have become more diverse in religion, including having no religious faith at all. Is the First Amendment still applicable to Americans these days, even those with no specific religion? Author Joshua Charles dives deep into this complicated topic as he addresses the thoughts and opinions of the Founding Fathers about this important matter. He explains how the First Amendment transcends religious discrimination, affects the relationship between virtue and liberty, and the importance of morality in modern times.