George Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention, a milestone in the history celebrated by America250.
Delegates met in Philadelphia from May to September 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation. Instead of making limited changes, they drafted an entirely new framework of government: the United States Constitution. Washington, already famous as the Continental Army’s commander, was unanimously chosen to chair the convention.
Washington generally spoke less often than some delegates, but his presence gave the proceedings prestige and helped maintain order. The convention’s debates addressed representation, executive power, taxation, commerce, and the relationship between the federal government and the states.
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, but it did not take effect immediately. Nine states had to ratify it, and the new federal government began operating in 1789. Washington then became the first president under the Constitution.