The Constitution of the United States was created by 55 delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787. James Madison is often called the "Father of the Constitution" because many of his ideas and plans, especially the Virginia Plan, became the foundation for the document. He played a pivotal role throughout the convention, contributed extensively to its drafting, and later defended it through writings like the Federalist Papers. However, the Constitution was a collective effort involving many others, including notable delegates such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris (who wrote much of the final text including the preamble), and others who served on committees that detailed and styled the document. The Constitution was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787, after months of passionate and thoughtful debate and compromise among the states. Therefore, while James Madison led the effort, the Constitution was made by a team of founders working collaboratively to create a new form of government stronger than the Articles of Confederation, reflecting diverse interests and views.