false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175312972m/504901.jpg 504901 1 In 1787, the American union was in disarray. The incompatible demands of the separate states threatened its existence; some states were even in danger of turning into the kind of tyranny they had so recently deposed. <br><br>A truly national government was needed, one that could raise money, regulate commerce, and defend the states against foreign threats&#8211;without becoming as overbearing as England. So thirty-six-year-old James Madison believed. That summer, the Virginian was instrumental in organizing the Constitutional Convention, in which one of the world&#8217;s greatest documents would be debated, created, and signed. Inspired by a sense of history in the making, he kept the most extensive notes of any attendee.<br><br>Now two esteemed scholars have made these minutes accessible to everyone. Presented with modern punctuation and spelling, judicious cuts, and helpful notes&#8211;plus fascinating background information on every delegate and an overview of the tumultuous times&#8211;here is the great drama of how the Constitution came to be, from the opening statements to the final votes. <br><br>This Modern Library Paperback Classic also includes an Introduction and appendices from the authors. 492947 8 11 2005 The Constitutional Convention: A Narrative History from the Notes of James Madison (Modern Library Classics) total:3|5:2|4:1|3:0|2:0|1:0| 3 14 11 0 5 0 false false Tue Nov 10 09:29:08 -0800 2009 Tue Nov 10 09:29:08 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Sat Sep 26 21:40:44 -0700 2009 Sat Sep 26 21:39:46 -0700 2009 0 0 false false Sun Mar 01 12:11:18 -0800 2009 Sun Mar 01 12:11:18 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Fri Feb 13 21:33:57 -0800 2009 Fri Feb 13 21:33:57 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Tue Feb 03 14:14:49 -0800 2009 Tue Feb 03 14:14:49 -0800 2009 0 0 false false Thu Jan 29 08:26:43 -0800 2009 Thu Jan 29 08:26:43 -0800 2009 5 0 false false Tue Oct 21 08:02:36 -0700 2008 Tue Oct 21 08:02:36 -0700 2008 4 0 false false Tue Aug 19 16:46:13 -0700 2008 Tue Aug 19 16:46:13 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Tue Jul 08 19:49:49 -0700 2008 Thu Jul 10 21:46:00 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Mon Apr 21 15:01:35 -0700 2008 Mon Apr 21 15:01:35 -0700 2008 0 0 false false Sat Mar 08 00:36:20 -0800 2008 Sat Mar 08 00:36:20 -0800 2008 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=504901