September 17th is Constitution Day! In 1787, the United States Constitution was signed. Months of hard work by the Founders preceded this signing. In 1786, then-Continental Congress delegate John Jay wrote in a letter to President George Washington, “an opinion begins to prevail that a general convention for revising the Articles of Confederation would be expedient.” Many Americans demanded a stronger federal government. Conflicts such as Shays’ Rebellion, which began in August 1786, highlighted the urgency of the need for reform. In 1787, The Constitutional Convention met May-September in Philadelphia to address these concerns. At the Convention, the Founders drew up a new Constitution with a stronger federal government that was split into three branches. The Constitution was ratified in June 1788, though some states demanded a bill of rights.