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Miracle At Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention May - September 1787 | 
 enlarge | Author: Catherine Drinker Bowen
Publisher: Back Bay Books
Category: Book
List Price: $16.95
Buy Used: $1.07
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Avg. Customer Rating:  27 reviews
Sales Rank: 17832
Media: Paperback
Edition: [1st ed.]
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 346
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.9
ISBN: 0316103985
Dewey Decimal Number: 342.73029
EAN: 9780316103985
ASIN: 0316103985
Publication Date: September 30, 1986
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Condition: Standard used condition.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 22 more reviews...
 Miracle at Philadelphia is a good popular history of the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787 March 3, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Catherine Drinker Bowen's "Miracle at Philadelphia" was first published in 1966. It has been reprinted and widely used in classrooms ever since that time. The book is well written in an easy to understand style which will aid the reader who wants a first hand account of how our nation's foundational document The Constitution was given birth. The Bill of Rights and the other amendments were not added to the key document until several years later.
The convention consisted of 55 delegates representing every state but Rhode Island. This smallest of states was anti-federalist and refused to send a delegate to sweltering hot Philadelphia in the late spring of 1787. The convention was charged with replacing the Articles of Confederation which had been in place since the end of the American Revolution. The Articles led to confusion over money being issued by each state; questions about a standing army and failed to quell such rebellion's against the central goverment as that of Shay's in Mass.
The debates were hotly fought and compromise over issues became key to the success of the Constitution. The presiding officer was hero General George Washington. Also present was the President of Pennyslvania Benjamin Franklin and the father of the Constitution James Madison of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were not there serving as respectively US ambassadors to France and Great Britain.
The Constitution divided the strong central government into three branches of judicial, legislative and executive. It was decided to give the people of America proportional representation in the House of Representatives with elections held every two years. Each state was to be given two senators regardless of the state's size. Senators were to be elected every six years. The President of the US was to be elected every four years. Slaves and Native Americans were considered as 3/5 of a white voter in the proportioning of representatives. State governments were given freedom but the national government was to be surpeme. Washington DC was selected as the site for the national capital.
After months of debate the Constitution was made public on September 17, 1787. It went to the states for ratification winning quick approval.
Votes in the states were close on approving the Constitution especially in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New York. Thankfully the Constitution won approval and made America a strong nation through national unity.
Throughout the work Ms. Bowen relishes descriptions of how the delegates dressed, talked and did in their political careers. She also takes us on a tour of late eighteenth century America. Anyone interested in early American history and government should read this excellent book!
LAYMAN'S GUIDE OF MOST SIGNIFICANT DOCUEMENT IN POLITICAL HISTORY February 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I recommend this book for those who have not been exposed to early american history and the founding of our political way of life. In todays presidential election climate this help to delineate the behind scenes forces that shape political thought and the impact these ideas have on our future direction.
 Dry as the Nevada Desert February 2, 2007
2 out of 23 found this review helpful
I was forced to buy and read this book for an American History class and I KNOW some may say that I am biased because I was required to read this book, but I must say, it is absolutly horrible. As a journalism major I found this book very hard to read. Every chapter talks about the same thing. The delegates can't decide on anything, everything is based on property and nothing is resolved. (well, until the end, obviously) Perhaps that is how the real constitutional convention happened, but i don't need to read the same thing over and over for 200 pages. Often, the author side tracks on little tid bits of personal information about the delegates that seem totally unrealted to the story at the time. Unless you are a seventy year old man, I don't think you will find this book interesting at all.
The Story Of The Miracle January 28, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
"Miracle At Philadelphia" brings the reader into one of the most crucial, sweltering summers of American history, during which the Constitutional Convention, called to propose amendments to the Articles of Confederation, exceeded its mandate and wrote the Constitution. The practice of maintaining secrecy of the proceedings reflects the delegates' fear of the public response had the radical nature of their actions been known and would later provide a sword to opponents of the Constitution during the ratification process.
Author Catherine Drinker Bowen does an excellent job of portraying the personae dramatae, framing the issues and reporting on the compromises which led to the end product.
The cast of characters includes some of the most spectacular names in the early American pantheon, some in surprising roles, and others, lesser known, but very important in this convention. George Washington, as president of the convention, presides in silence, but his very presence shaped the document created before him. James Madison and Alexander Hamilton guided the process through to the conclusion which they promoted. Benjamin Franklin guided with his sage hand, while James Wilson of Pennsylvania and Luther Martin of Maryland provided leadership to opposing sides. As hard as it is to imagine, this was done without the presence of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, both serving on diplomatic missions in Europe.
Many of the chapters are organized by issue. How we ended up with a bicameral legislature representing states and population, a single executive, the District of Columbia and other things are laid out before the reader. The debates over slavery, a standing army and other issues which, if adopted, might have changed our history radically, make for interesting historical reading. The ratification process is followed through the states. I was surprised to find James Monroe among the Anti-Federalists.
"Miracle at Philadelphia" relies on the notes maintained by delegates and seems to stick to known facts, eschewing speculation, fictional dramatization, and analysis of external influences in telling its story. It is not a riveting, novel like work, but is interesting and informative. I read it in the hopes of gaining an understanding of how the miracle of our Constitution came about. I am satisfied and trust that you will be too.
The Constitution comes alive December 7, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I tend to avoid buying just any book, because you read it one time and it has then outgrown its usefulness. This book is one that is needed in every personal library. It reads like a novel, but can most assuredly be used as a reference book. Bowen is a master craftsman when it comes to biography. You feel like you know them, without the use of superlatives. Their merits stand on their own, with the help of the authors excellent research. Miracle at Philadelphia is the blueprint to understanding that it truly was a miracle that the United States exists. You will be a better person for reading it. I love George Washington!
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