Sketches in History | The Feather Quill

Hello, and welcome back to a brand-new season of Sketches in History! I'm Lottie Archer, your guide. I'm so excited to have you back for more adventures through time!

During our first meeting last season, I shared something with you that is extraordinary…an old notebook. I know it doesn’t sound extraordinary, but this notebook is special. My grandfather was a great historian and loved all things ancient and old. I can still remember the day that he walked over to his safe and pulled the notebook from one of the shelves.

It’s magic, he told me as he handed me the notebook. Whatever page you turn to, whatever illustration is drawn on that page, comes to life. Not only that, but the person gets to experience it. They get pulled into the scene, into that moment, and can see and hear everything first-hand. Each page of this notebook is a doorway to a different moment in history.

He explained that almost everything in his study came from the different time periods he traveled to. A person could find pieces from ancient Rome, a scroll from the ancient library of Alexandria, and ink from the first printing press. No matter where you looked, there was a piece of history and a story behind it. Every week, we explore my grandfather's study to see what artifacts he has collected from the past and open my extraordinary notebook to a page that shows a sketch from history. The notebook teaches us what's happening in that sketch by magically pulling us into that moment, where we get to experience history first-hand.

This season is America’s 250th Anniversary, and as a result, we're going to witness some incredible moments in American History. Thankfully, my grandfather collected many things from his travels, and I can’t wait to show you one each week as we learn about this nation, together. It’s been a couple of months since our last meeting, so let’s walk into the study and explore together.

The air smells musty. Beams of light are falling through the windows showing us certain parts of the study. In the shadows, I can see shapes of artifacts on the desk, shelves, and hanging on the walls. Next to us is a large set of bookshelves full of old tomes and scrolls. Some of the scrolls have tassels that swing back and forth as the air from the outside hall floods into the room. Against the back wall, near the desk, is an old fireplace. I can’t wait to use this as it gets colder outside! Let’s walk further in and get the notebook out of the safe.

Here it is! The soft leather of the binding feels really familiar, and I can almost feel the magic through the cover. Let’s go over to the desk and see what story it is going to share with us today!

As we sit at the desk, something is catching my eye. There, resting on a piece of faded velvet, is a delicate feather quill. Its tip is darkened with age and old ink, and beside it lies a small placard that reads Philadelphia, 1787. My grandfather must have collected this quill during one of his expeditions to study American history. He always said that sometimes the smallest objects carry the biggest stories.

But first, let's learn our word of the day: compromise.

Have you ever been in a situation where you and a friend wanted to do different things? Maybe you wanted to play outside, but your friend wanted to stay inside and draw. So you decided to draw with chalk on the sidewalk, a little bit of what each of you wanted. That's a compromise. It means giving up a little bit of what you want so that everyone can move forward together. It's not always easy, but it's how we solve big problems when people disagree. I have a feeling we're going to see people make a compromise today.

Let's open our notebook and see where it's taking us next.

Perfect! This sketch shows a stately brick building with tall windows. Through those windows, I can see men in powdered wigs gathered around tables covered with papers. Some are standing, gesturing with their hands. Others are sitting, their heads bent low in thought. One man is holding a quill just like the one my grandfather found. The air in the room looks thick and humid. I can almost feel the summer heat pressing down on them.

The pictures are starting to move! Are you ready? Close your eyes, hold on tight, and let's go!

We made it! Wow, it is incredibly hot here. We're standing outside a large brick building, the State House in Philadelphia. The summer sun is beating down, and the air feels heavy and still, like right before a thunderstorm. I can hear the faint sound of voices coming from inside, some raised, some hushed.

Let's move closer to one of the windows so we can see what's happening inside.

Oh my. The room is filled with men dressed in formal coats, breeches, and stockings, despite the sweltering heat. Many have powdered wigs that look uncomfortable in this weather. Sweat glistens on their foreheads. The room smells of candle wax, old wood, ink, and parchment. Long tables are covered with papers, maps, and documents. Quills rest in inkwells, and some lie scattered across the tables where delegates have set them down mid-thought.

I can tell that people here are stressed. Some men are pacing back and forth. Others are leaning forward in their chairs, arguing with passion. A few sit with their arms crossed, looking frustrated or exhausted. Everyone looks tired, like they've been here for days, maybe weeks, trying to solve an impossible puzzle.

Based on the year on that placard and what we're seeing, I believe we're witnessing the Constitutional Convention of 1787. These delegates have come from all thirteen states to create a new government for America.

I can hear one delegate—he looks like he's from a large state—standing and speaking with frustration in his voice.

"Gentlemen, this is preposterous!" My state of Virginia has nearly 750,000 souls. Delaware has barely 59,000. How can you claim we should have equal voices in Congress? It is neither fair nor logical! To believe this is either fair or logical, one must possess a mind unburdened by a single sensible thought.”

He sits down heavily, and immediately another delegate jumps to his feet—a man from one of the smaller states.

"And what of fairness for us? Under your scheme, sir, the large states would hold all the power! The small states would be nothing more than appendages, colonies of the great states! We did not fight a war against tyranny only to submit to tyranny from our fellow Americans!”

The room erupts with voices, some agreeing with Virginia, others with the small states. I can hear chairs scraping against the wooden floor as more delegates stand to make their points. Some are pointing at documents; others are gesturing emphatically with their hands. The temperature in the room feels like it's rising, and not just from the summer heat.

Look, in the corner of the room, there's a man sitting quietly. That's George Washington. He's presiding over this Convention, which means he's in charge of keeping order. Right now, he looks deeply concerned. His brow is furrowed, and he's watching the delegates with serious eyes. I think he's worried that these men won't be able to agree—and if they can't agree, there won't be a United States of America as we know it.

Then, something changes. A delegate from Connecticut, whose name is Roger Sherman, stands and raises his hand. The room gradually quiets to hear him speak.

"Gentlemen, if I may. We have been at an impasse for weeks. Perhaps... perhaps we need not choose one plan or the other. What if we were to establish two houses of Congress? In one house, let us call it the Senate, each state would have equal representation. Two senators for each state, whether large or small. In the other house, the House of Representatives, representation would be based upon population, as the larger states desire."

A moment of silence fills the room. Then murmuring begins, some delegates are nodding slowly, others are still skeptical, but they're listening carefully. I can see wheels turning in their minds. It's not perfect for anyone, but maybe, just maybe, it could work for everyone.

The tension begins to ease, just a little. One by one, delegates who were ready to walk out started to sit back down. They're still debating details, but now they're working together instead of against each other. They're compromising, and as they do, they are drafting a document. Let’s see if we can get a closer look.

Oh wow! The Constitution is being written right now, and we are here to experience it! The delegates line up at a table where the final document rests. George Washington is first. He dips a quill, the same kind as the one in my grandfather's study, into an inkwell. The room is completely silent. He signs his name in steady, careful strokes. The scratch of the quill on parchment is the only sound.

One by one, the other delegates approach the table. Some sign quickly, with confidence. Others hesitate for just a moment, quill hovering over the page, before they commit their signature. Each man knows that this signature is more than just a name; it's a promise. A promise to try this new government, even though it's not exactly what any of them wanted. A promise to work together.

I can see relief on some faces, uncertainty on others, but determination on all of them. They've done it. They've compromised. And in doing so, they've created something that will last for centuries.

Let’s open the notebook again to the sketch that brought us here so we can go back to the study.

Phew! We're back in the study…cool, quiet, and filled with the familiar smell of old books.

Let's see what the notebook says about what we just witnessed.

We just experienced the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787. Delegates from all thirteen states gathered to create a new Constitution for the United States of America. The biggest challenge they faced was called the Great

Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise. Large states like Virginia wanted representation in Congress based on population; more people meant more representatives. Small states like Delaware and New Jersey wanted equal representation, the same number of representatives for each state, regardless of size. The disagreement was so intense that some delegates threatened to leave, which would have meant no Constitution and possibly no United States.

Roger Sherman of Connecticut proposed a solution: create two houses of Congress. The Senate would give each state equal representation with two senators each. The House of Representatives would base representation on each state's population. This compromise allowed both large and small states to feel they had a fair voice in the new government.

On September 17, 1787, thirty-nine delegates signed the Constitution. George Washington signed first as President of the Convention.

Remember our word of the day? That's right, compromise. The delegates in Philadelphia showed us that compromise isn't about winning or losing. It's about listening to each other, understanding different viewpoints, and finding a solution that works for everyone, even if no one gets exactly what they wanted. Their willingness to compromise created the Constitution that still guides our country today, more than 235 years later.

What an incredible journey! We witnessed one of the most important compromises in American history, felt the tension in that hot room, and watched as men who deeply disagreed with each other found a way to work together. We learned that the greatest achievements often come not from everyone agreeing, but from everyone being willing to meet in the middle.

And this is just the beginning! This season, we have so many more adventures waiting for us in the pages of this extraordinary notebook. We'll witness moments of courage, innovation, and discovery. We'll meet people who helped mold this country through their determination and creativity. We'll experience history first-hand, standing right beside the people who made it happen.

Thank you for joining me for the first adventure of this new season! Don't forget to subscribe to the 15-Minute History Podcast so you won't miss a single moment. And if there's a moment in history you'd love to explore with me, send your ideas to 15minutehistory@gmail.com.

Until next time, keep wondering, keep imagining, and remember…the past is just a page away.

Discussion Questions

1. Why was compromise necessary for the delegates in 1787 to complete the Constitution?

2. Think of a time when you and someone disagreed. How did compromise (or how could compromise) help you both move forward?

3. What do you think was hardest for the delegates—giving up what they wanted, trusting the other states, or worrying that their solution wouldn't work?

4. Why do you think having both the Senate and the House of Representatives was a fair solution for both large and small states?

5. Can you think of a situation in your own life where compromise helped solve a problem?