In February 1787, the Confederation Congress authorized a convention of state delegations “for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation…” When delegates gathered in Philadelphia several months later, few anticipated that the meeting would last 88 days. As delegates discussed the post-war challenges facing the young nation, it quickly became apparent that simply revising the Articles of Confederation would not adequately address these challenges. Over the course of the proceedings, 55 delegates from twelve states (all except Rhode Island) contended with questions about the structure and authority of the national government while balancing their respective state interests. Through a series of debates that revealed important agreements and disagreements, and produced a handful of crucial compromises, the Convention ultimately created an unprecedented framework for “republican” government. The Constitution was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787. The Constitutional Convention was scheduled to begin on May 14, 1787, but only eight delegates, four from Pennsylvania and four from Virginia, had arrived. Lacking the necessary quorum, the delegates adjourned until a sufficient number of states were in attendance. By May 25, enough delegates had assembled to officially begin the Convention’s proceedings. One of their first actions was to establish a set of rules and procedures, including the notable “secrecy rule,” which encouraged open, “unbiased discussion” and a free exchange of ideas. These rules were adopted without debate and were consistently observed throughout the Convention. -Michelle Alderfer