The framers of the Constitution were the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 who drafted and helped establish the United States Constitution. There were 55 delegates from the original states (except Rhode Island) who attended the convention, but only 39 signed the Constitution. These men were prominent leaders, many of whom had been involved in the American Revolution and had extensive political experience. The framers included notable figures such as George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris, Roger Sherman, Edmond Randolph, and James Wilson. They represented a wide range of professions, including lawyers, merchants, farmers, and landowners, and were generally well-educated and wealthy. The framers aimed to create a new framework of government that would create a just government, ensure peace, provide national defense, and establish a healthy, free nation. Their work was influenced by Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and Montesquieu and reflected principles like separation of powers and federalism.