This Date in History

The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, convened with the purpose of writing a new constitution for the American nation.

On September 17, 1787, the Convention finished its work and 39 members signed this document, thereby creating a new government. Members, such as Benjamin Franklin, admitted that the document was not perfect, but the Convention felt confident in presenting the constitution to the states for ratification. The success of the American colonists in the Revolutionary War culminated in the moment when these inspired men finished signing the document that created one of the strongest nations in the world, built upon democracy, justice, and the pursuit of happiness.