The Constitutional Convention of 1787 met in Philadelphia.
Delegates gathered in the Pennsylvania State House, the building now known as Independence Hall. The convention ran from May 25 to September 17, 1787, and produced the United States Constitution after debates over representation, federal power, and the structure of government.
The meeting was originally intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, but many delegates concluded that a new system was necessary. George Washington presided over the convention, while James Madison's Virginia Plan helped shape the discussions. The delegates ultimately created a government with legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Rhode Island did not send delegates, and the Constitution was signed by 39 of the 55 delegates who attended. Philadelphia had already hosted the Second Continental Congress and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, making it a central setting in the American founding story.