On May 25, 1787, delegates from seven states met in Philadelphia. Their goal was to revise the Articles of Confederation.
Soon, delegates from five more states arrived. Of the original states, only Rhode Island did not send a representative. Some of the most famous names in America were there. Benjamin Franklin, at 80, was the oldest. George Washington ran the meeting. But John Adams and Thomas Jefferson weren’t there. They were in Europe as ambassadors for the new country. Patrick Henry, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams didn’t go to the meeting. Like some others, they didn’t want a stronger central government. Through the long, hot summer, the delegates debated many issues. In the end, they changed history.
