On May 25, 1787, delegates from various states gathered in Philadelphia to begin what became the Constitutional Convention. They initially planned to revise the Articles of Confederation but soon decided to draft a new framework of government. The debates touched on representation, federal and state powers, slavery, and the structure of the executive and judicial branches. Over several months, delegates argued, compromised, and produced the text of the U.S. Constitution. The convention’s work laid the foundation for the federal system that still exists today. The opening of the convention marked the start of one of the most important political gatherings in American history.
