George Washington presided over the 1787 Constitutional Convention, a key event in the United States’ America250 story.
The convention met in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787. Delegates had originally been invited to revise the Articles of Confederation, but they ultimately drafted an entirely new framework of government: the United States Constitution.
Washington was unanimously elected president of the convention. His prestige as former commander of the Continental Army helped lend authority to the proceedings, even though he took part in relatively little debate. He signed the Constitution and later became the first president of the United States under it.
Washington’s convention role is different from James Madison’s. Madison was a leading planner and contributor to the document, while Washington served as the presiding officer. Benjamin Franklin was also a delegate, but he did not chair the convention.