On May 25, 1787, delegates from seven states met in Philadelphia with the goal of revising the Articles of Confederation. Soon, delegates from five more states arrived.
Of the original states, only Rhode Island wasn’t represented. Some of the most famous names in America were there, including Benjamin Franklin, who, at 80 years of age, was the oldest. George Washington presided over the meeting. However, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were absent because they were both in Europe serving as ambassadors for the new country. Others didn’t attend this meeting because they did not want a stronger central government. Some of the men who fell into this category were Patrick Henry, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams. Through the long, hot summer, the delegates debated many issues—and in the end, they changed history.
