It is the spring of 1787.
这是1781年的春天。
The Revolutionary War has been over for only six years, and the young United States is still struggling in its infancy.
当时已是美国独立战争结束后的第六个年头，年轻的美国仍在婴儿摇篮里挣扎。
Uprisings, boundary disputes and the lack of a common vision all plague the newborn country.
暴动，边境纠纷，缺乏共同展望，这些都在折磨着这个新生的国家。
In an effort to steady this precarious ship,
为了让这艘船在风雨漂泊里平稳前行，
the Confederation Congress calls on states to send delegates to the grand Convention, to begin on May 14 in Philadelphia.
十三州邦联的国会呼吁各州代表参加5月14日在费城举行的大会。
The delegates must draft revisions to the Articles of Confederation,
代表必须起草邦联条例的修正案，
which would then be considered by the Congress and approved by the states.
然后由国会审议，再经过各州批准。
Under the terms of the Articles, all 13 states had to agree to any changes.
根据邦联条例，任何修定都需要13个州同意。
Since the purpose of the Convention is just to make recommendations,
由于大会的目的只是要提出建议
not everyone is excited about attending, and frankly, some think it's a waste of time.
所以不是每个人都想参加。坦白说，还有人认为这是在浪费时间。
As men from different parts of the country began to travel down dusty, rugged roads on the way to Philadelphia,
全国各地的代表沿着泥泞崎岖之路前往费城，
not all states send delegates. In fact, Rhode Island never even shows up.
并非每个州都派了代表。比如罗德岛的代表从未来过。

On May 14th, only 8 delegates -- not states, but individual delegates -- are present, so they wait.
5月14日那天，只来了8位代表。然而，这还不是8个州的代表，他们只好等待。
Finally, on May 25th, the necessary quorum of seven states is acheived.
在5月25日，终于等到了七个州的代表，达到了法定门槛。
In all, 55 delegates arrive in Philadelphia over the course of the Convention.
共有55名代表到达费城，并出席了会议。
They are all white males, property owners, and the average age is about 44.
他们全部为男性白人，有一定资产，平均年龄约为44岁。
Some are slaveholders, some had signed the Declaration of Independence, and almost all are well-educated.
有的是奴隶主，有的是签过独立宣言，几乎都受过良好的教育。
Picture the delegates, James Madison and George Washington among them, sitting in Independence Hall in hot, humid Philadelphia.
我们可以想象，詹姆斯·麦迪逊和乔治·华盛顿等代表也在其中，相聚在炎热潮湿的费城独立厅。
They're all wearing the dress of the day: frock coats, high collars and thick pants.
那时候，他们身穿同样款式的衣服：长外套，高领衬衫和厚裤子。
They vote to keep their discussions secret to encourage honest debate.
大家投票决定，为了激励更诚实地辩论，此次辩论内容将作为机密。
But that means the windows are closed, and there is no air conditioning in 1787, not even an electric fan.
这表明必须窗户紧闭，但是那是在1781年，没有冷气，更没有电风扇。
And they'll sit in that sweltering heat, in those heavy clothes, for three months.
于是他们在酷热难耐的三个月里，穿着厚衣服开会。
Shockingly, they all keep their vow of secrecy.
令人吃惊的是，他们全都信守誓言。
That could never happen today, not even for an hour-long meeting.
而这在今天是不可能的事情，连一个小时的会议都无法被保密。
Someone would share 'James Madison thinks he's so smart. Keyword: articles are dead' via social media,
若是在今天，有人会在社交媒体上分享：詹姆斯·麦迪逊自以为自己很聪明，关键词：条例无效。
and the whole thing would be a disaster.
而这件事会变成一场灾难。
But in 1787, there are no leaks. Not even a drip that hints at what they are doing.
但在1787年，没有泄密事件发生。没有人知道他们在做什么。
And what they are doing is nothing short of overthrowing the very government that sent them there.
他们所做的，跟推翻派他们出来的政府没有两样。
Within a few days, with only a seven-state quorum, and only six of those states agreeing, a handful of men change the course of history.
几天内，只达到最低法律要求的七个州投票，但是只有六个州同意，少数人改变了历史的轨迹。
They vote to get rid of the Articles of Confederation, and write a new, more nationalistic document that becomes our Constitution.
他们投票废除联邦条例，起草了新的、更具有民族精神的文件，这便是后来的美国宪法。
The risk is immense. Everyone on the outside assumes they were working on recommended revisions to the Articles.
他们冒着极大的风险。外面的人还以为他们在起草邦联条例修正案。
It's an incredible gamble, and even when the Convention presents the signed Constitution on September 17th, not all delegates endorse it.
即使在9月17日宪法签署后，也是一场前所未有的赌注，并非每位代表都签署了。
The country will argue and debate for two more years before the document is adopted by the required nine out of 13 states.
这场争论在全国持续了两年，最后，十三个州中的九个州通过了该文件。
But instead of punishing them for their deception, today we celebrate the wisdom and vision of those men in Philadelphia.
大家并没有因此惩罚他们的欺骗，今天，让我们共同称赞这些费城代表们的智慧和远见吧。