Editing George Washington (section)

===Constitutional Convention of 1787===
{{Main|Constitutional Convention (United States)}}
[[File:Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|alt=Painting by Howard Chandler Christy, depicting the signing of the Constitution of the United States, with Washington as the presiding officer standing at right|''[[Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States]]'', a 1940 portrait by [[Howard Chandler Christy]] depicting Washington as the presiding officer at the [[Constitutional Convention (United States)|Constitutional Convention]] in 1787]]

Before returning to private life in June 1783, Washington called for a strong union. Though he was concerned that he might be criticized for meddling in civil matters, he sent a circular letter to the states, maintaining that the [[Articles of Confederation]] were no more than "a rope of sand". He believed the nation was on the verge of "anarchy and confusion", was vulnerable to foreign intervention, and that a national constitution would unify the states under a strong central government.{{sfnm|Alden|1996|1p=221|Chernow|2010|2p=518|Ferling|2009|3p=266}}

When [[Shays's Rebellion]] erupted in Massachusetts in August 1786, Washington was further convinced that a national constitution was needed.{{sfn|Chernow|2010|pp=517–519}}<ref name=anb/> Some nationalists feared that the new republic had descended into lawlessness, and they met on September 11, 1786, at [[Annapolis Convention (1786)|Annapolis]] to ask the Congress to revise the Articles of Confederation.{{sfnm|Taylor|2016|1pp=373–374|Ferling|2009|2p=266}} Congress agreed to a [[Constitutional Convention (United States)|Constitutional Convention]] to be held in Philadelphia in 1787, with each state to send delegates.{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1p=523|Taylor|2016|2pp=373–374}} Washington was chosen to lead the Virginia delegation, but he declined. He had concerns about the legality of the convention and consulted [[James Madison]], Henry Knox, and others. They persuaded him to attend as they felt his presence might induce reluctant states to send delegates and smooth the way for the ratification process while also giving legitimacy to the convention.{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1pp=220–221|Ferling|2009|2p=266}}

Washington arrived in Philadelphia on May 9, 1787, and the convention began on May 25. Benjamin Franklin nominated Washington to preside over the meeting, and he was unanimously elected.{{sfnm|Chernow|2010|1pp=520–521, 523, 526, 529|Unger|2013|2p=33}} The delegate [[Edmund Randolph]] introduced Madison's [[Virginia Plan]]; it called for an entirely new constitution and a sovereign national government, which Washington highly recommended.{{sfn|Ferling|2010|pp=359–360}} However, details around representation were particularly contentious, resulting in a competing [[New Jersey Plan]] being brought forward.{{sfn|Chernow|2010|p=553}} On July 10, Washington wrote to Alexander Hamilton: "I almost despair of seeing a favorable issue to the proceedings of our convention and do therefore repent having had any agency in the business."{{sfn|Alden|1996|pp=226–227}} Nevertheless, he lent his prestige to the work of the other delegates, lobbying many to support the ratification of the [[Constitution of the United States|Constitution]].{{sfn|Alden|1996|p=229}} The final version adopted the [[Connecticut Compromise]] between the two plans, and was [[Signing of the United States Constitution|signed by 39 of 55 delegates]] on September 17, 1787.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government/the-constitution/|publisher=The White House|access-date=January 12, 2025|title=The Constitution}}</ref>