Constitutional Convention Begins

Before the Constitution, America's national government operated under the Articles of Confederation which was a flawed document that went through numerous attempted fixes. In September 1786, delegates from five states met in the Annapolis Convention as part of these efforts. At the end of that convention, they called for a meeting of all the states.

This meeting -- which would become known as the Constitutional Convention -- officially began on May 25, 1787. The first several weeks of the Convention were frustrating as the delegates deadlocked over many issues. At the height of this impasse, Benjamin Franklin made his famous appeal for prayer:

In this situation of this Assembly, groping, as it were, in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of Lights to illuminate our understanding?....I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business.

The delegates took three days off and George Washington (president of the Constitutional Convention) noted that he attended church. During this time, Rev. William Rogers gave a lengthy prayer for the Convention, requesting God:

Favor them [the Convention delegates], from day to day, with Thy immediate presence; be Thou their wisdom and their strength! Enable them to devise such measures as may prove happily instrumental for healing all divisions and promoting the good of the great whole.

After this recess, many positive compromises were reached and the Constitution was approved on September 17 and sent to the states for ratification. 

The American government established under the Constitution has been the most successful in the world, having seen America safely through both turmoil and prosperity. Today, let's thank God that He blessed the efforts that began on this day, 234 years ago!

It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it
[the Convention] the finger of the Almighty Hand which has been
so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the
critical stages of the Revolution.
(James Madison)