George Washington presided over the 1787 Constitutional Convention, part of the founding history remembered by America250.
The convention met in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787, primarily to revise the Articles of Confederation. Delegates soon decided to design an entirely new framework of government instead. Washington was chosen as president of the convention because of his national reputation and leadership during the Revolutionary War.
Washington usually did not dominate the debates. He followed formal procedure, voted only when his vote could affect the outcome, and helped lend legitimacy to the proceedings. His presence also reassured delegates who wanted a stable national government.
James Madison played a major role in preparing for the convention and recording its debates, but he was not its presiding officer. Benjamin Franklin was an influential elder delegate, and Alexander Hamilton attended and spoke for a stronger national government. Washington later became the first president under the Constitution.