The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution (5 volumes)

Jonathan Elliot’s The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution is one of the most important historical records of America’s founding era. First published in the early 19th century, this multi-volume work compiles transcripts and summaries of debates that took place in state conventions as they considered ratifying the U.S. Constitution. Elliot’s collection provides invaluable insight into the thoughts, concerns, and arguments of the framers and their contemporaries, offering a deeper understanding of the principles that shaped the American system of government. Unlike The Federalist Papers, which advocated for the Constitution’s ratification, Elliot’s work presents a broader and more nuanced view of the discussions that occurred in individual states. Delegates debated issues such as the distribution of…