The Debates on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution

"The Debates on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution," edited by Jonathan Elliot, is a comprehensive five-volume collection that meticulously documents the deliberations and discussions held in various state conventions during a pivotal period in American history. As the United States grappled with the adoption of the Federal Constitution, these state conventions played a crucial role in shaping the nation's political landscape. Jonathan Elliot, through careful compilation and editing, presents a rich tapestry of the debates that unfolded across different states, providing readers with a nuanced understanding of the diverse opinions, concerns, and arguments surrounding the ratification of the Constitution. This volumes remain the best source for materials about the national government's transitional period between the closing of the Constitutional Convention in September 1787 and the opening of the First Federal Congress in March 1789.

Jonathan Elliot (1784–1846) was an American historian who produced two influential collections of documents connected with the early American republic. The first was a five-volume collection entitled The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution and the second collection is the 1832 work The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798 and '99.