A More Perfect Union: List 2: Pages 24–42

by Betsy and Giulio Maestro
Merely a decade after America declared independence from England, the colonies were not cooperating, and the new country was in trouble. Fifty-five Americans assembled in the stifling heat of 1787 Philadelphia, debating and compromising, in the hope of creating a foundational document for the struggling country: the Constitution of the United States.

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. debate
    discuss the pros and cons of an issue
    On August 6, the delegates began to examine the draft of the new Constitution. Every sentence was argued, debated, and discussed by the members of the convention.
  2. parchment
    a superior paper resembling sheepskin
    Then the words were copied onto parchment, a very special kind of paper that lasts for a long time.
  3. formal
    adhering to traditional standards of correctness
    The signing of the Constitution was a formal ceremony.
  4. ratified
    formally approved and invested with legal authority
    The Constitution had to be ratified, or approved, in each state before it could become law.
  5. convince
    make realize the truth or validity of something
    The delegates had to convince the people in their home states to vote for the new Constitution.
  6. celebration
    a joyful occasion for festivities to mark some happy event
    When July 4 came, huge celebrations were held in many cities.
  7. election
    a vote choosing the winner of a position or political office
    A date was set for the first election, by the people, of a President of the United States.
  8. unanimous
    acting together as a single undiversified whole
    George Washington was everyone's choice; he was elected by unanimous vote.
  9. oath
    a solemn promise regarding your future acts or behavior
    On April 30, 1789, he took the oath of office, promising to serve his country well.
  10. propose
    present for consideration, examination, or criticism
    So, to ease these fears, Congress proposed some additions to the Constitution.
  11. amendment
    a statement that is added to a proposal or document
    The first ten additions, or amendments, are known as the Bill of Rights.
  12. basis
    the most important or necessary part of something
    Today, some two hundred years after it was written, the Constitution is still the basis of American government and the American people's way of life.
  13. principle
    a basic truth or law or assumption
    This idea of each citizen playing a part in government is one of the principles that makes America strong.
  14. guarantee
    make certain of
    Power from the people, protected and guaranteed by the Constitution, has kept a union of states, now grown to fifty, together all these years.
  15. union
    a political unit formed from previously independent groups
    Power from the people, protected and guaranteed by the Constitution, has kept a union of states, now grown to fifty, together all these years.
Created on Tue Mar 24 22:03:48 EDT 2026 (updated Thu Mar 26 17:30:08 EDT 2026)

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