Constituitional Convention Meets

The Constitutional Convention began on May 25th in Philadelphia. The need for a new constitution was clear throughout the colonies. The Articles of Confederation had not provided the means of governing the nation. The central government had no power to regulate commerce or enforce taxation. It did not have any executive powers. The Convention lasted until the 17th of September.

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Fifty-five of the colonies' best and brightest arrived in Philadelphia for the Constitutional Convention. They came from every state in the Confederation, except Rhode Island.

Representatives included: Samuel Adams; Alexander Hamilton; George Washington, who presided and James Madison, whom many consider to be the author of the Constitution.

One third of the representatives were veterans of the Revolutionary War; thirty-four were lawyers. They all felt that the United States needed a stronger central government.