The events of June 1787 begin with debate on the national executive on June 1, and end with arguments over representation in the legislature on June 30.
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 1: June 1, 1787: National Executive Debated
The Committee of the Whole debated issues related to the national executive - term of office, method of selection. James Madison (VA) proposed a single executive aided by a council, but the Convention postponed voting on the matter. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 2: June 2, 1787: Debate Continues on the National Executive
Benjamin Franklin (PA) produced a written speech proposing that the executive serve without pay. The Convention discarded this proposal without debate or vote. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 3: June 3, 1787: Convention Adjourned
Connecticut nationalist Jeremiah Wadsworth had some concerns about one delegate in particular. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 4: June 4, 1787: A Single Executive
Resolved into the Committee of the Whole, the Convention considered Charles Pinckney's (SC) motion for a single executive. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 5: June 5, 1787: Debate on the Judiciary
James Wilson (PA) argued that the judiciary should be appointed by the executive rather than the legislature. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 6: June 7, 1787: Electing the Senate
Election of Senators proved to be a hot topic. U.S. Senators would later meet in the room shown here in the 1790s. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 7: June 6, 1787: Electing the Lower House
John Adams was not present at the Constitutional Convention but his newly published book (advertised for sale in a Philadelphia newspaper this day) would prove to have significant influence. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 8: June 8, 1787: Veto Powers
Charles Pinckney (SC) moved to give the legislature power to veto state laws. Some of the delegates vehemently opposed that plan. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 9: June 9, 1787: Debate Over Proportional Representation
Luther Martin (MD), an ardent support of state's rights, appeared and took his seat today, on the day when the small states launched their attack on proportional representation. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 10: June 10, 1787: Recess
The delegates enjoyed a day of recess after a week of progress on all three branches of government. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 11: June 11, 1787: Representation in the Legislature
Roger Sherman (CT) moved that representation in the legislature be proportional in the first house, and by state with one vote per state in the Senate. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 12: June 12, 1787: State Ratifying Conventions
The Committee of the Whole had a busy day with topics ranging from the process of ratifying conventions for their new framework of government to age requirements for senators. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 13: June 13, 1787: Report from the Committee of the Whole
Had today's Committee of the Whole report been accepted without change, the U.S. Constitution would have been quite different. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 14: June 14, 1787: The Small States Prepare to Rebel
Concerned for the interests of the small states, William Paterson of New Jersey asked for time to prepare an alternative to the Virginia Plan. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 15: June 15, 1787: The New Jersey Plan
William Paterson (NJ) introduced what would become known as the New Jersey Plan. The plan included nine resolutions, and reflected the small states' interest in maintaining an equal vote in Congress. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 16: June 16, 1787: Comparing the Plans
James Wilson (PA) put forth a point-by-point comparison of the Virginia and New Jersey Plans, with arguments in favor of the Virginia Plan. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 17: June 17, 1787: Sunday Recess
On this Sunday recess, delegates may have been reflecting on the arduous work still ahead of them. Read more
-
Article 18: June 18, 1787: Hamilton Speaks
Alexander Hamilton (NY) spoke for hours, comparing the Virginia and New Jersey Plans, and introducing his own plan of government. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 19: June 19, 1787: Deficiencies of the New Jersey Plan
James Madison made eight arguments against the New Jersey Plan, moving the Virginia Plan back to the center of consideration. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 20: June 20, 1787: Abandoning the Articles of Confederation
The delegates considered the one-house legislature of the Articles of Confederation, and voted against it. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 21: June 21, 1787: Work Resumes on the Virginia Plan
The delegates turned their attention back to the Virginia Plan, with much debate over the lower house. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 22: June 22, 1787: Debate Over Congressional Pay
The delegates meeting inside the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall) discussed the substance of "fixed stipends to be paid out of the National Treasury." Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 23: June 23, 1787: Eligibility for Other Federal Offices
The debate on eligibility for members of the lower house to hold other federal offices took most of the day. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 24: June 24, 1787: Sunday Recess
On this Sunday recess, delegates like Rufus King took time to write letters. Others may have reflected on the major issues they debated in convention that week. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 25: June 25, 1787: Election of Senators
This day's debates centered on the election of members of the upper house. Robert Morris, delegate from Pennsylvania, later served in the U.S. Senate from 1789 to 1795. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 26: June 26, 1787: Terms of Service for Senators
The battle over terms of service in the Senate may have caused some of the delegates, like Oliver Ellsworth, to feel somber over the task at hand. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 27: June 27, 1787: Retain the Articles of Confederation?
Luther Martin, delegate from Maryland, spoke at length in defense of a general government that would represent state governments, not individuals. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 28: June 28, 1787: Franklin's Proposal for Prayer
At the end of a day of heated debate, Benjamin Franklin put forth a motion to begin the daily sessions with a prayer. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 29: June 29, 1787: Hot Debate Over Representation
After some hot debate over representation, Oliver Ellsworth (CT) put forth a compromise for proportional representation in the lower house, and equal representation in the Senate. Read more
-
Independence National Historical Park
Article 30: June 30, 1787: Fireworks of All Sorts
Heated - and sometimes bitter - debate marked this day's proceedings as the delegates argued over representation in the legislature. Read more