Final answer:
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was attended by 55 delegates, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. Notable absentees were Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams. The aim was to revise the Articles of Confederation, but it led to the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Constitutional Convention of 1787, held in Philadelphia, was attended by 55 delegates, and their aim shifted from amending the Articles of Confederation to creating a new framework for the U.S. government. Among the prominent figures were George Washington, who served as president of the convention, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and Roger Sherman. However, notable absentees included Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams, who had reservations about the Constitution, and Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who were abroad on diplomatic duties. Rhode Island chose not to send any delegates to the convention.
Among other influential participants were George Mason, Edmund Randolph, William Paterson, James McHenry, Charles Pinckney, John Rutledge, and Elbridge Gerry. The convention was initially convened to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, but the outcome was the drafting of the United States Constitution. This document has become the oldest written constitution currently in use, a testament to the foundational work of these delegates.
Despite the absence of some significant founders, the convention's attendees were the nation’s leading thinkers and policymakers at the time, laying the foundation for the creation of the United States as a cohesive, functioning republic.