Jonah Patel
The Founding Fathers of the United States were a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Great Britain, and established the United States of America. The Founding Fathers include those who wrote and signed the United States Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States. The Constitution, as drafted, was criticised by the Anti-Federalists, who believed that the document failed to protect individual liberties from the federal government. However, on September 17, 1787, 39 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Washington signing first.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | 17 September 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of signatures | 39 |
| Number of delegates | 70 |
| Number of delegates who attended | 55 |
| Number of delegates who refused to sign | 3 |
| Age of youngest signer | 26 (Jonathan Dayton) |
| Age of oldest signer | 81 (Benjamin Franklin) |
| First signer | George Washington |
| Last signer | James Madison |
| Year of last signer's death | 1836 |
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What You'll Learn
Who signed the US Constitution?
The US Constitution was signed by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates). The signing took place on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 39 signatories included Jonathan Dayton, the youngest signer at 26, and Benjamin Franklin, the oldest at 81, who summed up the sentiments of those who did sign, stating:
> There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. I will accept the Constitution [...] because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best.
The delegates who signed the Constitution represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with individuals having experience in local or colonial and state government. Virtually every signer had taken part in the American Revolution; seven had signed the Declaration of Independence, and thirty had served on active military duty.
Among the notable signatories were Richard Bassett of Delaware, John Blair of Virginia, David Brearley of New Jersey, Jacob Broom of Delaware, and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina, who, unlike the majority of signatories, had not served in the Continental or Confederation Congresses. Roger Sherman was the only person to have signed all four of these founding documents: the Articles of Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution.
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How many people signed it?
The US Constitution was signed by 39 delegates, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which refused to send delegates). The signatures were collected on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing ceremony took place after the Constitutional Convention, which 55 delegates attended.
The 39 signatories included George Read, who signed on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, who was absent due to illness. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, also signed the document to authenticate some corrections, bringing the total number of signatures to 39.
The delegates represented a range of ages, with Jonathan Dayton, at 26, being the youngest, and Benjamin Franklin, at 81, being the oldest. Franklin was also the first signer to pass away, in April 1790, while James Madison was the last, dying in June 1836.
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Why did they sign it?
The Founding Fathers of the United States were a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Great Britain, established the United States of America, and crafted a framework of government for the new nation. The Founding Fathers include those who wrote and signed the United States Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States.
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates). The signing of the Constitution was an extraordinary achievement. The delegates came up with a powerful central government, representing wildly different interests and views, and crafted compromises. It stands today as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world.
The founders set the terms for ratifying the Constitution. They bypassed the state legislatures, reasoning that their members would be reluctant to give up power to a national government. Instead, they called for special ratifying conventions in each state. Ratification by 9 of the 13 states enacted the new government.
The signing of the Constitution was an important step in the process of creating a new government for the United States. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention worked for four months to create a document that would establish a new framework for the government of the United States. The signing of the Constitution was the final step in this process, and it marked the completion of the document and the agreement of the delegates to its contents.
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Where did they sign it?
The Founding Fathers of the United States, or the Founders, were a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Great Britain, established the United States of America, and crafted a framework of government for the new nation.
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Independence Hall, formerly known as the Pennsylvania State House, was the meeting place of Congress.
The Constitutional Convention was attended by 55 delegates, but only 39 of them signed the Constitution. The delegates represented 12 states, with Rhode Island refusing to send any delegates. The 39 delegates who signed the Constitution were from the states that endorsed it.
The signing of the Constitution was the final step in a four-month-long convention. The document was engrossed (copied in a fine, clear hand) by Jacob Shallus, the assistant clerk for the Pennsylvania General Assembly, who was paid $30 for his efforts. The signing was set for the Monday following the approval of the draft by the state delegates.
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When was it signed?
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing occurred after the Constitutional Convention, which assembled in Philadelphia in May of 1787. The Constitutional Convention was a gathering of 55 delegates, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates). Of the 55 delegates, 39 signed the Constitution, with several attendees leaving before the signing ceremony and three of the 42 who remained refusing to sign. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair due to his infirmity. George Washington signed first, followed by the other delegates, grouped by states in progression from north to south.
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Frequently asked questions
39 delegates signed the US Constitution, with George Read signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, who was absent.
The Founding Fathers of the United States were a group of late-18th-century American revolutionary leaders who united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the War of Independence from Great Britain, established the United States of America, and crafted a framework of government for the new nation.
George Washington was the first founder to sign the US Constitution.
Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the last founder to sign the US Constitution.
