![]() ![]() John Jay (1745-1829), Samuel Adams (1722-1803) and John Hancock (1737-93) were also absent from the convention. Political leaders not in attendance at the convention included Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) and John Adams (1735-1826), who were serving as U.S. Eight delegates were signers of the Declaration of Independence, while six had signed the Articles of Confederation.Īt age 81, Pennsylvania’s Benjamin Franklin (1706-90) was the oldest delegate, while the majority of the delegates were in their 30s and 40s. In terms of religious affiliation, most were Protestants. Many had served in the Continental Army, colonial legislatures or the Continental Congress (known as the Congress of the Confederation as of 1781). ![]() The delegates (who also became known as the “framers” of the Constitution) were a well-educated group that included merchants, farmers, bankers and lawyers. George Washington, who’d become a national hero after leading the Continental Army to victory during the American Revolution, was selected as president of the convention by unanimous vote. There were 55 delegates in attendance, representing all 13 states except Rhode Island, which refused to send representatives because it did not want a powerful central government interfering in its economic business. On May 25, 1787, the Constitutional Convention opened in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence had been adopted 11 years earlier. The Confederation Congress, which in February 1787 endorsed the idea, invited all 13 states to send delegates to a meeting in Philadelphia.Īrticles of Confederation Forming a More Perfect Union In 1786, Alexander Hamilton, a lawyer and politician from New York, called for a constitutional convention to discuss the matter. Soon after America won its independence from Great Britain with its 1783 victory in the American Revolution, it became increasingly evident that the young republic needed a stronger central government in order to remain stable. Although he saw the need for a stronger national government, he was busy managing his estate at Mount Vernon, suffering from rheumatism and worried that the convention wouldn't be successful in achieving its goals. The Articles of Confederation gave Congress the power to govern foreign affairs, conduct war and regulate currency however, in reality these powers were sharply limited because Congress had no authority to enforce its requests to the states for money or troops.ĭid you know? George Washington was initially reluctant to attend the Constitutional Convention. The national government was comprised of a single legislature, the Congress of the Confederation there was no president or judicial branch. Articles of ConfederationĪmerica’s first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, was ratified in 1781, a time when the nation was a loose confederation of states, each operating like independent countries. To date, there are 27 constitutional amendments. The Bill of Rights were 10 amendments guaranteeing basic individual protections, such as freedom of speech and religion, that became part of the Constitution in 1791. The Preamble outlines the Constitution's purpose and guiding principles. ![]()
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