Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution is one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world. It was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The delegates were tasked with revising the existing government, but they ended up creating an entirely new form of government, establishing a powerful central government while remaining loyal to their states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date written | 17th September 1787 |
| Number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 39 |
| Location of the original signed, handwritten Constitution | National Archives in Washington, D.C. |
| Date the Constitution came into effect | 4th March 1789 |
| Date the first draft of the Constitution was accepted | 6th August 1787 |
| Date Congress authorized delegates to gather in Philadelphia | 1787 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The United States Constitution, one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world, was signed on September 17, 1787. The signing of the Constitution was the culmination of a process that began earlier that year, when Congress authorized delegates to gather in Philadelphia and recommend changes to the existing charter of government for the 13 states, the Articles of Confederation. However, it quickly became clear that the delegates were forming an entirely new form of government.
The Constitutional Convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, so the American people did not see the Constitution until after it was signed. The original signed, handwritten Constitution is now housed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
The Constitution did not go into effect immediately upon being signed. It needed to be ratified by the people through a process established in Article VII, which required the ratification of nine states for the establishment of the Constitution. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, and the Confederation Congress established March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating a new government under the Constitution.
The Constitution was the result of a Grand Convention of state delegates convened to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which many Americans believed had created a weak and ineffective central government. The Articles of Confederation had no enforcement powers, could not regulate commerce, and could not print money, leading to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade that threatened to tear the young country apart. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing a wide range of interests and views, crafted a powerful central government that was nevertheless wary of centralized power and loyal to the individual states.
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The delegates formed a new form of government
The delegates of the Constitutional Convention, held in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787, formed a new form of government. Initially, the convention was intended to revise the existing charter of government for the 13 states, the Articles of Confederation, which many Americans believed had created a weak and ineffective central government. However, it soon became clear that the delegates were working towards a completely new form of government.
The delegates, who were mostly former members of the Confederation Congress, elected George Washington, a proponent of a stronger national government, as the president of the convention. They debated and ratified the Constitution of the United States, making the convention a significant event in American history. The convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, so the printing of the Constitution represented the first time Americans saw it.
The delegates' decision to form a new government was influenced by the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which lacked enforcement powers, could not regulate commerce, and could not print money. These limitations led to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear the country apart. The delegates sought to address these issues by creating a powerful central government with strong executive privileges.
The delegates' new form of government was also influenced by the belief that a strong central government was necessary to face the nation's challenges. This belief was held by the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, while the Anti-Federalists opposed it due to concerns about centralized power and the lack of a bill of rights. The delegates compromised on various issues, such as congressional representation, slavery, and state powers, to create a government that balanced the interests and views of all parties involved.
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The Articles of Confederation were weak and ineffective
One of the main weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation was the lack of power given to the central government. The Articles purposely kept the national government weak to allay fears of a strong central government and to allow the states to maintain their independence. However, this meant that the central government lacked important powers such as the power to tax, the power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce, and the power to enforce acts passed by Congress. The central government also lacked an executive branch or a national court system, further limiting its effectiveness.
Another issue with the Articles of Confederation was the requirement for unanimous consent to any amendment. With rivalries and loyalties between the states, this made the Articles impossible to adapt after the war with Britain ended in 1783. Additionally, the central government struggled to fund its operations due to its reliance on voluntary tax contributions from the states, which led to difficulties in maintaining an effective military and backing its own currency.
The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation became increasingly apparent, especially after Shays' Rebellion, a tax protest by western Massachusetts farmers in 1786 and 1787. This rebellion demonstrated the central government's inability to suppress an internal uprising, as it had to rely on a state-sponsored militia. These events, along with economic and military weaknesses, led Americans to call for changes to the Articles and eventually to the creation of a new U.S. Constitution in 1787.
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The Constitution was authored by the Continental Congress
The Constitution of the United States was authored by the Continental Congress, a convention of delegates from the 13 states, in 1787. The Continental Congress was convened to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution and had created a weak and ineffective central government. The delegates of the Continental Congress, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, sought to establish a stronger central government with the power to regulate commerce, enforce rules, and maintain stability.
The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, began in May 1787 with delegates gathering in Philadelphia. The convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, and the windows of the State House were shuttered to ensure privacy for the delegates' discussions. The delegates engaged in fierce debates over the structure and powers of the new federal government, including congressional representation and the contentious issue of slavery.
Edmund Randolph of Virginia drafted the first version of the Constitution, which was then revised by James Wilson. The Committee of Detail was appointed to put the resolutions into writing, and a clean copy was sent to Philadelphia printers John Dunlap and David Claypoole. The printed copies were kept confidential and distributed only to the delegates. The final document was signed by 38 delegates on September 17, 1787.
The Constitution did not immediately go into effect after being signed. It required ratification by nine of the 13 states, which was achieved on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify. The Confederation Congress established March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating the new government under the Constitution. The original signed and handwritten Constitution is now housed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
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The Constitution was influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy
The United States Constitution was written in 1787, and it is widely acknowledged that the structure of the document was influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy. The Iroquois Confederacy was a multi-state government that ensured individual governance and freedoms for its five tribes: Mohawk, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, and Seneca. The sixth nation, the Tuscarora, joined the Iroquois Confederacy in 1722.
The Iroquois Confederacy operated under the Great Law of Peace, a doctrine of 117 codicils where individual tribes handled their own affairs but came together to solve issues of common importance. This federal structure, along with notions of individual liberty and the separation of powers, is believed to have influenced the framers of the U.S. Constitution.
In 1987, Oren Lyons, a Faithkeeper for the Iroquois Confederacy, brought up the subject of the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy on the U.S. Constitution before the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs. This led to the committee's chair, Daniel Inouye, helping to pass a resolution in 1988 that formally acknowledged this influence. The resolution also reaffirmed the "government-to-government relationship between Indian tribes and the United States established in the Constitution," recognizing the legitimacy and sovereignty of Native nations and their governments.
While the Iroquois Confederacy provided a real-life example of some of the political concepts the framers were interested in adopting, it was not an exact model for the U.S. Constitution. The constitutional framers may have viewed the indigenous people of the Iroquois Confederacy as inferior, but they still admired their federalist principles.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written in 1787.
The US Constitution was written to replace the Articles of Confederation, which many Americans believed had created a weak and ineffective central government.
The US Constitution was written by delegates representing 13 states with wildly different interests and views. It stands today as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world.
After it was written, the US Constitution had to be ratified by nine of the 13 states. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, and the Confederation Congress established March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating a new government under the Constitution.
The original signed, handwritten Constitution is at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
