1. Constitutional Convention
1787

2. The need for a new government
The articles of confederation were too loose and the founding fathers saw the need for a stronger central government
Alexander Hamilton called for a Constitutional Convention to figure out what to do
There were 55 delegates from all states except Rhode Island who didn’t want a stronger government

3. Those in Attendance
George Washington was chosen as the president of the convention
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were away as ambassadors in Europe
Patrick Henry didn’t like the idea of a central government so he did not attend
James Madison transcribed all that happened
The Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan were early drafts

4. The Ratification of the Constitution
After a lot of arguing over several months, Washington was the first of 39 to sign the Constitution
In order to get it ratified though, 9 of the 13 states had to agree to it
James Madison and Alexander Hamilton wrote what later became known as the Federalist Papers trying to persuade the states to vote for the constitution
Federalists and Anti-Federalists

5. The Bill of Rights
On March 4th, 1789, New Hampshire was the 9th state to ratify the constitution and it passed
Washington was inaugurated on April 30, 1789
The Bill of Rights was created in 1791 and is the first 10 amendments to the Constitution