202 The Early History of the United States Congress

On September 17, 1787, a majority of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention approved the new form of government they had spent months drafting and submitted it to the 13 states for their ratification and approval. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the 9th state to ratify the Constitution, which prompted the transition to the government of the United States Constitution. Matt Wasniewski, the Historian of the United States House of Representatives and Terrance Rucker, a Historical Publications Specialist in the Office of the Historian at the United States House of Representatives, lead us on an exploration of why and how the United States Constitution established a bicameral Congress and how and why the House of Representatives took the shape and form that it did during its early meetings. Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/202   Sponsor Links Omohundro Institute The Great Courses Plus (Free Month Unlimited Trial)   Complementary Episodes Episode 040: Kata Bartoloni-Tuazon, For Fear of an Elective King Episode 078: Rachel Shelden, Washington Brotherhood: Politics, Social Life, and the Coming of the Civil War Episode 112: Mary Beth Norton, The Tea Crisis of 1773 Episode 153: Committees and Congresses: Governments of the American Revolution Episode 179: George Van Cleve, Governance During the Critical Period Episode 180: Kate Elizabeth Brown, Alexander Hamilton and the Making of American Law   Helpful Show Links Ben Franklin's World Facebook Page Join the Ben Franklin's World Community Sign-up for the Franklin Gazette Newsletter Ben Franklin's World iOS App Ben Franklin's World Android App