The Farmer Rebellion That Forged the U.S. Constitution
On January 25, 1787, debt-crushed Massachusetts farmers led by Daniel Shays attacked the federal arsenal at Springfield — and their defeat helped give America its Constitution.
Tales from the year 1787
Thirty-Nine Men Sign a Piece of Parchment That Rules a Nation
On September 17, 1787, thirty-nine delegates signed the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia — a document almost nobody loved, written by men who openly doubted it would work.
December 7, 1787: Delaware Becomes the First State
On December 7, 1787, Delaware's convention voted 30-0 to ratify the U.S. Constitution, making it the first state in the Union.