The Constitution of the United States was created primarily during the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787. It was the product of thoughtful deliberation, debate, and compromise among 55 delegates from 12 of the original 13 states (Rhode Island did not participate). The Constitution was drafted to replace the ineffective Articles of Confederation with a stronger federal government framework. James Madison is often called the "Father of the Constitution" due to his crucial role in crafting much of the document, including authoring the Virginia Plan, which served as a basis for the new government structure. Other significant contributors included Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington (who presided over the convention), Gouverneur Morris (largely responsible for the wording), and members of key committees like Oliver Ellsworth, Edmund Randolph, and James Wilson. The Constitution was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787, and after ratification by nine states, it went into effect on March 4, 1789. The process involved creating a balance of power between states and the federal government through a system of checks and balances in three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. In summary, the Constitution was created collectively by the delegates of the Constitutional Convention with James Madison playing a leading role in its drafting.