Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, after around four months of debate and deliberation. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with delegates gathering to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, by mid-June, the delegates decided to completely redesign the government, leading to discussions and debates over congressional representation and other key issues. The final document was signed by 39 delegates, with Benjamin Franklin notably expressing his dissatisfaction with certain parts of the Constitution but accepting it nonetheless.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the first convention | May 14, 1787 |
| Date of the first convention with a quorum | May 25, 1787 |
| Number of states represented at the convention | 12 |
| Number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 38 |
| Total number of signatures | 39 |
| Date the final document was taken up | September 17, 1787 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787
The United States Constitution is one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with the aim of revising the Articles of Confederation, which were seen as inadequate in addressing the country's challenges. The Articles, America's first constitution, gave the Confederation Congress rule-making and funding powers but lacked enforcement, commerce regulation, and money-printing capabilities.
The delegates, including George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, met in secrecy, shutting the windows of the State House to ensure privacy. They soon realised that a complete redesign of the government was necessary, and fierce debates ensued. One of the most contentious issues was congressional representation, with delegates arguing over whether it should be based on population or divided equally among the states. A compromise was reached, with each state receiving one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two in the Senate.
Another challenging topic was slavery, threatening to derail the Union. A temporary resolution was found, with the delegates agreeing to continue the slave trade until 1808 and counting enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person. The delegates, representing diverse interests and views, had to forge multiple compromises to craft the final document.
The final session of the convention took place on September 17, 1787, and the Constitution was signed by 38 delegates, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total signatures to 39. Benjamin Franklin, summarising the sentiments of those present, acknowledged his own reservations about certain parts of the Constitution but accepted it, hoping for future improvements.
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A Committee of Detail was appointed to draft the constitution
The United States Constitution was signed by 38 delegates on September 17, 1787, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The delegates were tasked with revising the existing government but instead came up with a completely new one. The drafting process began in May 1787, when the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia.
The committee's work was guided by two key principles: including only essential principles and avoiding minor provisions that would change over time, and using simple and precise language to allow for flexibility in interpretation. The committee referenced state constitutions, the Articles of Confederation, plans submitted to the convention, and other materials, including the writings of European political philosophers. The Declaration of Independence was also an important guide for its ideals of self-government and fundamental human rights.
The committee did not record its minutes, but it is known that they used the original Virginia Plan, the decisions of the convention on modifications, and other sources to produce the first full draft. The committee was composed of members with varying views on states' rights and the role of the national government, and these perspectives influenced the final balance between state and national powers in the document. The committee's draft was a significant milestone in the process of creating the Constitution, and it underwent further revisions by other committees and the convention before the final document was signed in September 1787.
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The final document 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 final document marked the culmination of a process that began earlier that year, in May 1787, when the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia. The delegates to the convention, including prominent figures such as George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, had convened with the initial goal of revising the existing Articles of Confederation, which were seen as inadequate and threatening to tear the young nation apart.
However, as the convention progressed, it became clear that a more radical approach was needed, and the delegates embarked on the task of completely redesigning the government. They grappled with contentious issues such as congressional representation and the thorny question of slavery, ultimately crafting a series of compromises that would shape the country's future. The final document, engrossed by Jacob Shallus, was the result of these intense negotiations and debates.
The signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787, was a significant moment in the history of the United States. Of the thirty-nine signers, thirty-eight delegates affixed their signatures to the document, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware. Benjamin Franklin, despite having reservations about certain parts of the Constitution, accepted it, acknowledging the challenges of reaching a unanimous consensus among the diverse interests and views represented by the delegates.
The Constitution's creation was a complex and contentious process, reflecting the delegates' wariness of centralized power and their loyalty to their individual states. They crafted a powerful central government while also ensuring the preservation of state power in a system of checks and balances. The ratification process further underscored the delicate balance between federal and state authority, as the founders bypassed state legislatures and called for special ratifying conventions in each state, requiring ratification by nine of the thirteen states to enact the new government.
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38 delegates signed, with George Reed signing for John Dickinson
The United States Constitution is one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions worldwide. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the document, with George Read signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, who was absent. This brought the total number of signatures to 39.
The delegates assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, tasked with revising the Articles of Confederation. However, by mid-June, they had decided to completely redesign the government. The delegates had to navigate complex issues, such as congressional representation and slavery, and crafted compromises to bridge their differences.
John Dickinson was a prominent figure in the lead-up to the Constitutional Convention. He served as a delegate from Pennsylvania and Delaware and played a key role in drafting the Articles of Confederation. Dickinson supported the creation of a strong central government but advocated for equal representation for each state in the Senate, regardless of size. He also carefully drafted the document using the term "'Person' instead of 'Man," reflecting his commitment to reconciliation rather than revolution.
Despite his contributions, Dickinson did not sign the Constitution due to chronic illness. He left the convention early, entrusting George Read to sign on his behalf. Dickinson went on to promote the Constitution through a series of essays written under the pen name Fabius.
The signing of the Constitution marked an extraordinary achievement. The delegates, representing diverse interests and views, created a powerful central government while remaining loyal to their states. They bypassed state legislatures and called for special ratifying conventions in each state, with ratification by 9 of the 13 states enacting the new government.
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The Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution
The writing of the United States Constitution was a lengthy process that spanned several months in 1787. It involved a series of debates, discussions, and compromises among the delegates who gathered in Philadelphia. The final document was signed on September 17, 1787, and it has since become one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world.
Now, let's focus on the Anti-Federalists' opposition to the Constitution:
The Anti-Federalists were a group of influential individuals who vehemently opposed the ratification of the Constitution. They were concerned about the concentration of power in the national government and advocated for stronger state governments. Notable Anti-Federalists included Patrick Henry, George Mason, Richard Henry Lee, Samuel Adams, Elbridge Gerry, and Mercy Otis Warren. They believed that the Constitution created a powerful central government, reminiscent of the one they had recently overthrown, and that it lacked a bill of rights to protect civil liberties. The Anti-Federalists favoured strong state governments, direct elections, short term limits for officeholders, and enhanced individual liberties.
The ratification battle was a heated debate over political power and federalism. While the Federalists, supporters of the Constitution, argued for a stronger national government, the Anti-Federalists defended a vision of America with powerful states. They feared that the new Constitution would grant the federal government too much power, threatening individual freedoms. This opposition led to the creation of the Bill of Rights, which includes the First Amendment and other amendments protecting Americans' civil liberties.
The Anti-Federalists' opposition was not without impact. Their concerns about the power of the national government influenced the adoption of the Bill of Rights and shaped the political landscape of the early United States. The political divide between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists continued even after the Constitution was ratified, with disagreements extending into the presidency of George Washington.
In summary, the Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution because of their commitment to states' rights and their fear of a powerful central government. Their opposition played a crucial role in the development of the Bill of Rights and the protection of civil liberties in the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution of the United States was written and signed on September 17, 1787, in a span of around 4 months.
The delegates first assembled in Philadelphia in May of 1787.
The delegates shut the windows of the State House and swore secrecy.
38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39.
