"United States Constitution Bicentennial" Commemorative Patch, 1991

In 1787, Congress called for a convention to amend the Articles of Confederation. In September, the convention delegates proposed a new constitution for the country. As ratification began (ratification required nine states), some members urged the addition of a "Bill of Rights" (amendments to the Constitution) to spur passage. Americans commemorated this four-year-long successful process more than two hundred years later.