1776–1791 · a first route through the records

A country in the making.

Move from private letters to public proposals, from disagreement to the first amendments. Select a moment to see its document and constitutional connection.

Madison’s portrait · National Archives guide

May 29, 1787

Proposal · revised manuscript survives

A plan enters the debate

Edmund Randolph presents the Virginia Plan, developed with James Madison. It proposes a stronger national government with three branches. The surviving Archives document is the revised June 13 version; the original submitted draft has not been found.

Examine the revised plan

3 of 6 moments

The story continues

The founding was a beginning.

The Constitution has changed through twenty-seven ratified amendments. Continue into abolition, citizenship, voting rights and the processes that keep the document open to change.

Continue through the amendments