The mission of The Constitutional Sources Project (ConSource) is to increase access to and understanding of the U.S. Constitution and its history and creation.
#OTD in 1787, the Constitutional Convention finally reached a quorum and began its business. Read James Madison's notes from the opening day here: https://t.co/OJxkvkQI0E
A letter from one of the stragglers: "I shall set off for Phila. tomorrow or next day in hopes that some of the other Gentm. will soon be after me," Nathaniel Gorham of Massachusetts wrote to Caleb Davis #OTD in 1787: https://t.co/73WfOMRXOu
"I...found so few of the deputies here from the several States that I am unable to form any certain opinion on the subject of our mission," George Mason wrote to Arthur Lee from Philadelphia #OTD in 1787: https://t.co/ysOzicEskS
"These delays greatly impede public measures, and serve to sour the temper of the punctual members, who do not like to idle away their time," complained George Washington in a letter to fellow Virginian Arthur Lee from Philadelphia: https://t.co/utmdOoRGhi
"It is a most important business, and I hope will be attended with success," wrote Benjamin Franklin from Philadelphia #OTD in 1787, as the convention gradually approached a quorum.
#OTD in 1954, a unanimous Supreme Court made perhaps its most momentous decision in Brown v. Board of Education. The decision invalidated school segregation on the basis of race, rebuking the "inherently unequal" notion of "separate but equal." https://t.co/r2Gs7WStir
"I am still far from conceiving that it will be able to have much vigor for a long time," French author St. John de Crevecoeur wrote of the Constitution #OTD in 1788: https://t.co/zvqFHVBYaA
#OTD in 1787, the Constitutional Convention was scheduled to convene, but delegates from only Pennsylvania and Virginia were present. It would take another 11 days to reach a quorum and begin proceedings.