The history of the United States Constitution is a long and fascinating one. It has been amended 27 times since its ratification in 1788, but it remains as relevant today as ever. The Founding Fathers sought to create a document that would ensure freedom and justice for all citizens while also protecting their rights from government overreach.

The first drafts of what would eventually become the US Constitution were created during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787. This convention was convened by George Washington at the request of Congress, with delegates representing each state present to discuss how best to revise the Articles of Confederation (the precursor to our current federal system). After four months and much debate among delegates such as James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Benjamin Franklin, and others, they reached an agreement on September 17th that became known as "the Great Compromise" between large states that wanted proportional representation versus small states that favored equal representation.

After this compromise was accepted by most delegates, work began on drafting what would become America's governing charter: the US Constitution. This included crafting articles that outlined the structure of branches within government, such as the executive (President), legislative (Congress) & judicial (Supreme Court); creating rules regarding taxation; establishing systems for conducting foreign affairs; outlining individual liberties/rights, including free speech & press; setting up methods through which amendments could be proposed & ratified into law; and providing mechanisms for settling disputes between states or individuals without resorting to violence or war. All these issues are addressed within just 4 pages. As time passed, however, more changes had to be made due to changing circumstances, so additional amendments have been added throughout our nation's history. Until now, there have been 27 total amendments incorporated into the living document we know today. Some very important ones include abolishing slavery with the 13th Amendment in 1865, followed shortly after by the 14th Amendment granting citizenship regardless of race or gender, and the 19th Amendment allowing women the right to vote in 1920. 

Despite being written hundreds of years ago, the core principles enshrined within the U.S. Constitution remain timeless touchstones upon which our democracy rests firmly today: Freedom, Equality, Justice, Rule, Law, Liberty, Pursuit, and Happiness. These values continue to serve us well even in the modern day, where challenges facing society are different than those faced by the founders, yet many of the same ideals apply no matter the era – whether responding to civil unrest, voting reform, healthcare, immigration, or re-election. education, economic inequality, climate change, and other social justice issues. Standing firm behind a contained constitutional framework gives hope that future generations will be able to live a life of liberty, pursuit and happiness too.