The men who arrived at Independence Hall in Philadelphia to write the U.S. Constitution were a very impressive group. They were among the country's brightest scholars and politicians. As a group, the delegates were well educated, well traveled, and politically astute. Despite these similarities, they were also a diverse group ranging in age from 26 (Jonathan Dayton) to 81 (Benjamin Franklin), and included lawyers, a farmer (Jacob Broom), a county surveyor (Roger Sherman), a doctor (James McHenry), and a former minister (Abraham Baldwin).
George Washington presided over the meetings (after being somewhat coerced by James Madison), while James Madison wrote most of the drafts of the document and kept the most detailed notes of proceedings.
While not invited to participate in the actual writing of the Constitution, it should be noted that women also played an important role in the early days of the United States. Many women were active in boycotting British products and protesting against taxation from the King prior to the Revolutionary War. Mercy Otis Warren, a playwright, is thought to be among the first to encourage Massachusetts to separate from England. During the War, some women distributed pamphlets to encourage independence, while others served in the Army as cooks, nurses, and at times, even as soldiers. One women, Margaret "Molly" Corbin, wounded in action in 1776 is the only Revolutionary War figure to be buried at the West Point Military Academy.
To learn more about the Founders visit the National Archives.
