The summer of 1787 : the men who invented the Constitution / David O. Stewart.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 285-334) and index.

The successful creation of the Constitution is a suspense story. This book takes us into the sweltering room in which delegates struggled for four months to produce the flawed but enduring document that would define the nation. George Washington presided, James Madison kept the notes, Benjamin Franklin offered wisdom and humor at crucial times. At different points, more than half of the delegates threatened to walk out, and some actually did. It was a desperate balancing act. Revolutionary principles required that the people have power, but could the people be trusted? Would a stronger central government leave room for the states? And what of slavery? The supercharged debates over America's original sin led to the most creative and most disappointing political deals of the Convention. In a country continually arguing over the document's original intent, it is fascinating to watch these powerful characters struggle toward consensus.--From publisher description.