Who presided over the Constitutional Convention, a key event in America's 250th-anniversary story?

George Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention, a key event in America's 250th-anniversary story.

Delegates chose Washington as president of the convention when it met in Philadelphia in 1787. His reputation as the former Continental Army commander and as a respected Virginia leader gave the proceedings prestige. He generally maintained order and allowed debate to proceed rather than dominating the convention's policy discussions.

The convention met from May 25 to September 17, 1787, and produced the United States Constitution. Washington signed the finished document and later became the first president under it. James Madison played a major role in preparing and recording proposals, but he did not preside over the convention.

Benjamin Franklin was also a delegate and signed the Constitution, while John Adams was serving as the American minister in Britain and did not attend. The convention's work replaced the Articles of Confederation with a stronger federal framework, although ratification still had to be won from the states.