Signed on September 17, 1787 — four years after the American War for Independence — the Constitution laid out the supreme law of the United States of America. Today it's easy for us to take this blueprint of our government for granted. But the Framers — fifty-five men from almost all of the original 13 states — argued fiercely for many months over what ended up being only a four-page document. Here is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the hotly fought issues — those between Northern and Southern States; big states and little ones — and the key players such as James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington who suffered through countless revisions to make the Constitution happen.