This is a detailed historical study of the intellectual, political, and legal issues involved in the creation of the original U.S. Constitution. The course has four parts: (1) readings on the intellectual background (political philosophy, economic theory, theology, and British constitutional law) that informed the debates over the Constitution, together with the experience under the state constitutions and Articles of Confederation between 1776 and 1787; (2) the framing of the Constitution in Philadelphia in 1787, including significant portions of Madison's Notes on the convention; (3) the ratification struggle, including significant portions of The Federalist Papers, anti-Federalist writings, and materials from the Virginia ratifying convention; and (4) the decision to adopt of Bill of Rights, with particular attention to the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment.