Description: The Constitution of the United States, signed by the members of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787, replaced the Articles of Confederation on June 21, 1788.
Brief description: THE FOUNDING FATHERS-a group of wealthy plantation owners, businessmen, philosophers, and politicians-united the 13 colonies, fought for independence from Great Britain, and wrote a collection of influential governing documents during the late 1800s, which lead and inspire the United States to this day. One hundred and forty-five men signed one or more of these documents, some of whom are well-known, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin; others less so, such as Roger Sherman of Connecticut, who was the only Founding Father who signed each document.