1787
U.S. Constitution Signed
After four months of argument, compromise, and Franklin's quiet humor, thirty-nine delegates signed the Constitution.
Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade Founded
In a London printing shop, twelve men - nine of them Quakers - founded a committee to petition Parliament against the slave trade.
Kansei Reforms Begin in Japan
Matsudaira Sadanobu, rising to power in the shogunate, launched austerity measures against famine and urban unrest…
Constitutional Convention Opens in Philadelphia
Fifty-five delegates met in the Pennsylvania State House under oath of secrecy, windows shut against eavesdroppers in the summer heat.
Federalist Papers Begin Publication
Under the pseudonym 'Publius,' Hamilton, Madison, and Jay began publishing 85 essays defending the new Constitution in New York newspapers.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1787?
Saeculum lists 5 events from 1787. The most significant is U.S. Constitution Signed: After four months of argument, compromise, and Franklin's quiet humor, thirty-nine delegates signed the Constitution.
What era was 1787 part of?
1787 falls within the Enlightenment (1651-1800). Reason, revolution, and the first global wars.
Which regions saw notable events in 1787?
The events from 1787 span North America, Europe and East Asia.