The Making of the American Constitution - Judy Walton

制定美國憲法 - 茱蒂華頓 (Judy Walton)

Transcriber: tom carter Reviewer: Bedirhan Cinar

譯者: Allen Li 審譯者: Tien-Hsin Yang

It is the spring of 1787.

這是 1787 年春天

The Revolutionary War has been over for only six years,

美國獨立戰爭才結束六年

and the young United States is still struggling in its infancy.

年輕的美國還在嬰兒期掙扎

Uprisings, boundary disputes and the lack of a common vision all plague the newborn country.

暴動、邊界糾紛、缺乏共同願景 都困擾著這新生的國家

In an effort to steady this precarious ship,

為了穩住這艘風雨飄搖中的船隻

the Confederation Congress calls on states to send delegates to the grand Convention,

十三州邦聯的國會 呼籲各州派代表參加大會

to begin on May 14 in Philadelphia.

5 月 14 日在費城舉行

The delegates must draft revisions to the Articles of Confederation,

代表必須起草邦聯條例的修正案

which would then be considered by the Congress and approved by the states.

然後送交國會審議，再由各州批准

Under the terms of the Articles,

根據邦聯條例

all 13 states had to agree to any changes.

任何改變均需全部 13 州同意

Since the purpose of the Convention is just to make recommendations,

由於大會的目的只是提出建議

not everyone is excited about attending,

所以不是每個人都想參加

and frankly, some think it's a waste of time.

坦白說，還有人認為這只是浪費時間

As men from different parts of the country began to travel down dusty, rugged roads on the way to Philadelphia,

全國各地的代表沿著 塵土飛揚的崎嶇道路前往費城

not all states send delegates.

並非每州都派了代表

In fact, Rhode Island never even shows up.

像羅德島的代表就從未出現過

On May 14th, only 8 delegates --

5 月 14 日當天，只到了 8 位代表

not states, but individual delegates --

不是 8 個州，而是只出現 8 位代表

are present, so they wait.

他們只好等下去

Finally, on May 25th, the necessary quorum of seven states is acheived.

最後， 5 月 25 日 終於達到法定門檻的七個州

In all, 55 delegates arrive in Philadelphia over the course of the Convention.

會期中共有 55 位代表在費城出席

They are all white males, property owners, and the average age is about 44.

全是白人男性、有財產、 平均年齡約 44 歲

Some are slaveholders, some had signed the Declaration of Independence, [James Madison, Roger Sherman]

有的養了奴隸、有的簽過獨立宣言 [詹姆斯麥迪遜、羅傑謝爾曼]

and almost all are well-educated. [Benjamin Franklin]

幾乎都受過良好教育 [班傑明富蘭克林]

Picture the delegates, James Madison and George Washington among them,

你可想像，詹姆斯麥迪遜 和喬治華盛頓等代表也在其中

sitting in Independence Hall in hot, humid Philadelphia.

坐在在炎熱潮濕的 費城獨立廳 (Independence Hall)

They're all wearing the dress of the day: frock coats, high collars and thick pants.

他們都穿著當時的禮服： 長外套、高領襯衫、厚褲子

They vote to keep their discussions secret to encourage honest debate.

他們投票決定 討論內容要保密，以鼓勵誠實辯論

But that means the windows are closed, and there is no air conditioning in 1787, not even an electric fan.

這表示窗戶要關上 但 1787 年沒有冷氣，也沒有電扇

and they'll sit in that sweltering heat, in those heavy clothes, for three months.

他們坐在酷暑中，穿著厚衣服 開了三個月的會

Shockingly, they all keep their vow of secrecy.

令人震驚的是 他們全都遵守保密的誓言

That could never happen today, not even for an hour-long meeting.

今日絕不可能發生 連一個小時的會議都無法保密

Someone would share "James Madison thinks he's so smart.

有人會在社群網路分享： 「詹姆斯麥迪遜自以為很聰明，

Keyword: articles are dead" via social media,

關鍵字：條例完蛋了。」

and the whole thing would be a disaster.

整件事會變成一場災難

But in 1787, there are no leaks. Not even a drip that hints at what they are doing.

但 1787 年完全沒洩密 沒人知道他們在做什麼

And what they are doing is nothing short of overthrowing the very government that sent them there.

他們做的，跟推翻 派他們出來的州政府沒有兩樣

Within a few days, with only a seven-state quorum, and only six of those states agreeing,

幾天內，只達到最低法律要求 七個州投票，只有六個州同意

a handful of men change the course of history.

少數人改變了歷史的軌跡

They vote to get rid of the Articles of Confederation,

他們投票廢除邦聯條例

and write a new, more nationalistic document that becomes our Constitution.

起草全新的、更有民族精神的文件 就是後來的美國憲法

The risk is immense.

他們冒了極大的風險

Everyone on the outside assumes they were working on recommended revisions to the Articles.

外面的每個人 都以為他們在起草邦聯條例修正案

It's an incredible gamble, and even when the Convention presents the signed Constitution on September 17th,

這是一場豪賭 即使在 9 月 17 日憲法簽署後也是

not all delegates endorse it.

並非每位代表都簽署了

The country will argue and debate for two more years

全國又爭辯了兩年之久

before the document is adopted by the required nine out of 13 states.

最後這文件獲得了 十三州中所需的九州同意 最終決定被採用

But instead of punishing them for their deception,

大家沒有處罰他們集體欺騙

today we celebrate the wisdom and vision of those men in Philadelphia.

今日我們共同讚揚 費城這些代表的智慧與遠見