he Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, convened with the purpose of writing a new constitution for the American nation. On September 17, 1787, the Convention finished its work and 39 members signed this document creating a new government. Members, such as Benjamin Franklin, admitted that the document was not perfect, but the Convention felt confident in taking the constitution to the states for ratification. What ensued was a huge debate about state's rights, the Bill of Rights, and the powers of government. Within a year enough states had ratified the constitution to make it law, and the new government went into effect. The success of the American colonists in the Revolutionary War culminated in this moment as the men finished the document that created one of the strongest nations in the world, built upon democracy, justice, and the pursuit of happiness.