Chapter 1: Signs of a failing system. 1. An early critique of the Articles of Confederation / Alexander Hamilton
2. Caution against a Constitutional Convention / by the Massachusetts Delegation to the Confederation Congress
3. General Washington worries about Shay's Rebellion / by George Washington
4. A prominent woman analyzes Shays's Rebellion / by Abigail Adams
5. Putting down the rebellion / by Benjamin Lincoln
Chapter 2: The workings of the Convention. 1. Preparations for the Convention / by George Mason
2. Character sketches of the framers / by William Pierce
3. A Convention update for an interested bystander / by Edward Carrington
4. Rumors from outside the convention / by David Humphreys
5. Wrapping-up the Convention / by the Constitutional Convention delegates
Chapter 3: Major debates in the Convention. 1. Popular rule or mob rule? : the role of citizens in the new government / by the Constitutional Convention Delegates
2. Representation : population or equality of the states / by the Constitutional Convention Delegates
3. The president: creating an American king? / by the Constitutional Convention Delegates
4. Slavery and the slave trade / by the Constitutional Convention Delegates
Chapter 4: Reactions to the finished product. 1. The father of the Constitution takes stock / James Madison
2. An American in Paris reacts / by Thomas Jefferson
3. A list of faults of the Constitution / by Anonymous
4. An antifederalist attack on the constitution / by the Federal Farmer
5. A federalist defense / by Publius
Chapter 5: The ratification debate and the Bill of Rights. 1. A passionate call for ratification / by Alexander Hamilton
2. A spirited attack by a famous patriot / by Patrick Henry
3. The ratification compromise: ratify with amendments / by the Delegates to the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention
4. Ambivalence toward a Bill of Rights / by James Madison
5. The need for a Bill of Rights / by Thomas Jefferson.
