Leaders in Philadelphia

Describe Madison, Washington, and Franklin at the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

Warm-up, learn, try it together, practice, then a quick check. About 15 minutes.

What children learn in Level 28

In the hot summer of 1787, delegates from twelve states met in Philadelphia. A delegate is someone chosen to speak and act for others. Rhode Island sent no one.
George Washington was chosen to run the meetings. Everyone trusted him, and his calm presence kept the delegates at work.
James Madison of Virginia came prepared. He'd studied governments for months, brought a plan, and took careful notes every day. He's called the Father of the Constitution.
Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest delegate. His wisdom and humor helped calm arguments, and at the end he urged everyone to sign.
The delegates met in secret, so they could speak freely. They soon decided to write a whole new plan. Georgia's Abraham Baldwin and William Few signed it.

Georgia Standards of Excellence in Social Studies:

SS4H2.a — Identify the major leaders of the Constitutional Convention (James Madison, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin).