title: Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution
author: Richard Beeman
description: "In sprightly, engaging prose and with a sure, steady scholarly hand, Rick Beeman has given us a vivid account of the most vital chapter of our early history: the making of the Constitution. This is a terrific book."Jon Meacham, author of <b>American Lion</b><br /> <br />"Beeman eschews the heroic version of the story in favor of a hard-eyed narrative that in no way diminishes the Framers' achievement. . . . In a motion-by-motion, day-by-day, debate-by-debate fashion, he re-creates the [delegates'] hard bargaining. . . . Masterfully told American history for the scholar and general reader alike."<i>Kirkus Reviews</i>, starred review<br /><br />"While some have boasted it as a work from Heaven, others have given it a less righteous origin. I have many reasons to believe that it is the work of plain, honest men."Gouverneur Morris<br /><br />"Authoritative and readable . . . Beeman's work is distiguished by a gently judicious tone that allows us to appreciate, and draw some lessons from, the delicate balances that emerged out of that passion-filled Philadelphia crucible." Walter Isaacson, <i>The New York Times Book Review<br /><br /></i>"The fullest and most authoritative account of the Constitutional Convention ever written."  Gordon S. Wood, author of <i>The Radicalism of the American Revolution<br /></i><br />"Engrossing . . . This minute-by-minute account introduces us to a world, and time, where everything was at stake."<i>Chicago Tribune,</i> editor's choice<br /><br /><br />"A stunning achievement . . . easily the best and most comprehensive treatment of its subject ever written."<i>Weekly Standard</i>
zlib_text: This one is for Terry Kitson and John Sexton, with love.
  
   _Copyright_
  
  Copyright © 1980 the Estate of Ted Allbeury
  
  All rights reserved.
  
  All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real
  persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.
  
  The author has asserted his moral right in accordance with Section 77 of the
  Copyright, Designs and Patent Act, 1988 [UK].
  
   _Bibliographical Note_
  
  This Dover edition, first published in 2017, is an unabridged republication of
  the work originally published by Granada Publishing, Great Britain, in 1980.
  
   _International Standard Book Number_
  
   _ISBN-13: 978-0-486-81922-8_
  
   _ISBN-10: 0-486-81922-1_
  
  Manufactured in the United States by LSC Communications
  
  81922101 2017
  
  [www.doverpublications.com](http://www.doverpublications.com)
  
  THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
  
  ARTICLE XX
  
   _(Proposed March 1932; Adopted February 1933)_
  
  SECTION I
  
  The terms of the President and Vice-President shall end at noon on the
  twentieth day of Janu