Episode 107: Mary Sarah Bilder, Madison’s Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention

by Liz CovartNovember 8, 2016

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When politicians, lawyers, and historians discuss the Constitutional Convention of 1787, they often rely on two sources: The promotional tracts collectively known as The Federalist Papers and James Madison’s Notes of the Constitutional Convention.

But what do we know about Madison’s Notes?

Did Madison draft them to serve as a definitive account of the Constitutional Convention?

Today, we explore James Madison’s Notes on the Constitutional Convention with award-winning legal historian Mary Sarah Bilder, the Founders Professor of Law at Boston College and author of Madison’s Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention.

About the Show

Ben Franklin’s World is a podcast about early American history.

It is a show for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world.

Each episode features a conversation with a historian who helps us shed light on important people and events in early American history.

Episode Summary

In this episode, we explore James Madison’s Notes on the Constitutional Convention with award-winning legal historian Mary Sarah Bilder, the Founders Professor of Law at Boston College and author ofMadison’s Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention.

During our investigation, Mary reveals details about the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and James Madison’s views on government; Why Madison took notes of Convention proceedings; And how Madison used his Notes during and after the Convention.

What You’ll Discover

The Constitutional Convention of 1787
Whether Americans in 1787 understood the significance of the Constitutional Convention as it took place
How citizens learned of government actions and debates in the 18th century
James Madison’s interest in the Constitutional Convention
Why Virginia elected Madison to the Constitutional Convention
Why Madison believed the United States needed a stronger central government than the Articles of Confederation provided
Legislative journals and Madison’s note-taking practices
What Madison’s notes and his handwriting look like
The importance of watermarks
The significance of Madison having written his Notes at different times
Fair copy notes vs. rough notes
How Madison might have revised different copies of his Notes
Madison’s particular interests in the Constitutional Convention
The 3/5ths Clause
How Madison used his Notes
Madison’s Notes and The Federalist Papers
How Thomas Jefferson used Madison’s Notes

Links to People, Places, and Publications

Mary Sarah Bilder
Mary's BC webpage
Mary’s Harvard University Press webpage
Madison's Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention
Library of Congress

Complementary Episodes

• Episode 055: Robb Haberman, John Jay: Forgotten Founder
• Episode 057: Max Edling, War, Money, and the American State, 1783-1867
• Episode 061: Ed Larson, George Washington in Retirement
• Episode 062: Carol Berkin, The Bill of Rights
• Episode 084: Zara Anishanslin, How to Historians Read Historical Sources

Time Warp Question

In your opinion, what might have happened if Thomas Jefferson had been in the United States during the Constitutional Convention? Would he have served as one of Virginia’s delegates? And if so, how would his presence at the Convention have altered Madison’s Notes?