This book uses reports, newspapers, journals, letters, and delegates' diaries to outline what went on that led to the creation of the US Constitution. Some of the key sticking points for the delegates were whether the states would be represented equally or by population. The type of government was also a heavily debated topic. Some delegates wanted a large, powerful government similar to England. Others preferred a small, states-oriented government.

There is also a lot of history into why the US inhabitants left England. This shows quite clearly why many did not want to re-create the country they had just vacated.

The middle two chapters of the book take a break from the convention to describe the population of each state and their way of life in this new land. It also describes the land (both frontier and city) and what it was like to live and travel in those times.

The later chapters dealt with how the Constitution was to be ratified, and the public's reaction to it. I didn't read these chapters in depth. I was pretty tired with the subject by then.

I would recommend this book for anyone wondering why the Founding Fathers did what they did back in 1787. It's very descriptive, and therefore can be a bit boring at times if you're not "into it".

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