Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution was drafted and signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates from 12 states, taking around 4 months to complete. The Constitutional Convention first assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with delegates initially tasked with revising the Articles of Confederation. However, the convention ultimately decided to completely redesign the government, creating a powerful central government. The ratification process for the Constitution began on the day it was signed and ended when the final state, Rhode Island, ratified it on May 29, 1790.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of first draft | May 25, 1787 |
| Date of final draft | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of delegates signing the Constitution | 38 |
| Total number of signatures | 39 |
| Number of states ratifying the Constitution by December 1787 | 5 |
| Date of ratification by the final state | May 29, 1790 |
| Number of states ratifying the Constitution | 13 |
| Date of the first federal elections | December 15, 1788 |
| Date of the official implementation of the Constitution | March 4, 1789 |
| Date of the first quadrennial presidential election | December 15, 1788 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787
The United States Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, marking the beginning of the drafting of the Constitution. The convention was called to address concerns about the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but lacked enforcement powers and the ability to regulate commerce or print money. Representatives from all 13 states were invited to the convention, which was held at the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall).
The delegates of the convention initially intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, but by mid-June, they had decided to create an entirely new form of government. The convention was marked by fierce debates and compromises on issues such as congressional representation and slavery. The delegates agreed to a compromise on congressional representation, with each state receiving one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. They also agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person and to allow the slave trade to continue until 1808.
The drafting of the Constitution was completed on September 17, 1787, when the delegates adopted and signed the Frame of Government, replacing the Articles of Confederation. On that day, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. Three delegates declined to sign the document: Edmund Randolph, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry. The ratification process for the Constitution then began, with Delaware becoming the first state to ratify it on December 7, 1787.
The ratification process was a challenging and lengthy endeavour, with Federalists and Anti-Federalists holding opposing views. The Federalists supported a strong central government, while the Anti-Federalists opposed the creation of a powerful central government, reminiscent of the one they had overthrown. The Anti-Federalists also argued for the inclusion of a bill of rights. The Constitution was gradually ratified by the required nine out of thirteen states, with New Hampshire becoming the ninth state to do so. The new government under the Constitution was set to begin on March 4, 1789, and the first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789. The final state, Rhode Island, ratified the Constitution on May 29, 1790, marking the official establishment of the United States Constitution.
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The delegates aimed to revise the Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777. This document served as a “league of friendship” for the 13 sovereign and independent states. Each state retained its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, along with every power not expressly delegated to the United States. However, the Articles of Confederation had limitations. The central government lacked the power to regulate commerce, raise funds, assemble delegates, or effectively govern the growing number of states.
By the mid-1780s, it became clear that the Articles of Confederation were inadequate. In May 1786, Charles Pinckney of South Carolina proposed that Congress revise them. Congress responded by appointing a committee to draft amendments, which were produced in August 1786. These amendments aimed to address issues such as granting Congress exclusive power over commerce and punishing poor attendance by members of Congress.
In September 1786, delegates from five states met at the Annapolis Convention to discuss reversing the protectionist interstate trade barriers. They voted to invite all states to a larger convention in Philadelphia in 1787, which became known as the Constitutional Convention. The Confederation Congress endorsed this convention for the express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.
On May 25, 1787, the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia with representatives from all 13 states. They met in secrecy, with shuttered windows, to discuss revising the Articles of Confederation. However, by mid-June, the delegates decided to abandon the Articles and create a new constitution with a stronger central government. This decision was driven by the recognition that the defects in the existing government could not be remedied through minor alterations.
The delegates engaged in intense debates over several months, addressing contentious issues such as congressional representation and slavery. They crafted compromises and worked to balance the interests and views of the different states. On September 17, 1787, the Constitutional Convention voted in favor of the new Constitution, marking the end of the Constitutional Convention. The ratification process then began, with Delaware becoming the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787. The Constitution was gradually ratified by the required nine out of thirteen states, officially establishing it for those states. The journey to full ratification was long, with Rhode Island becoming the final state to approve the document on May 29, 1790.
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By mid-June, a new government was proposed
The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. The drafting of the Constitution, often referred to as its framing, began on May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention met for the first time in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The delegates had gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. However, by mid-June, they had decided to completely redesign the government.
The Articles of Confederation had given the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young country apart. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention, wary about centralized power and loyal to their states, crafted a powerful central government. They compromised on issues such as congressional representation, slavery, and taxation.
The drafting of the Constitution was completed on September 17, 1787, when the Frame of Government drafted by the convention's delegates was adopted and signed by 39 delegates from 12 states. The ratification process for the Constitution then began, with Delaware becoming the first state to ratify on December 7, 1787. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
The new federal government and the presidential election were set to take place from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, with the new government set to begin on March 4, 1789. George Washington was unanimously elected as the nation's first president, with John Adams as the first vice president. The Constitution has since been amended 27 times, with the first several amendments, including the Bill of Rights, proposed in 1789.
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The final draft was signed on September 17, 1787
The final draft of the US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, marking the end of the Constitutional Convention that had begun on May 25, 1787. The signing of the Constitution by 39 delegates from 12 states (all except Rhode Island) was a significant moment in American history, as it laid the foundation for a new form of government.
The Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia, was convened to address concerns about the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress power but no enforcement abilities and could not regulate commerce or print money. The delegates, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, recognised the need for a stronger central government to prevent the young nation from collapsing.
While the initial purpose of the Convention was to amend the Articles of Confederation, the delegates ultimately decided to create a new form of government. This decision was not without controversy, as the Anti-Federalists opposed the idea of a powerful central government, reminiscent of the one they had overthrown. The Federalists, on the other hand, believed that a strong central government was necessary to address the nation's challenges.
The process of drafting the Constitution involved intense debates and compromises. One of the fiercest arguments was over congressional representation, with delegates compromising by granting each state one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. They also agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person, a temporary resolution to the contentious issue of slavery.
The ratification process for the Constitution began on September 17, 1787, and it was a long and arduous journey. Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The Constitution faced opposition from some states due to the lack of protection for certain rights, leading to the inclusion of the Bill of Rights. The document was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved it.
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Ratification by 9 of 13 states was required for the new government to take effect
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, marking the end of the Constitutional Convention and the beginning of the ratification process. The Constitution would not be binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 existing states. This was a strategic decision by the founders, who recognised that state legislatures would be reluctant to give up power to a national government.
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. However, some states opposed the Constitution because it did not provide protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. The terms of the Massachusetts Compromise, reached in February 1788, addressed these concerns by stipulating that amendments would be proposed, resulting in the Bill of Rights.
The ratification campaign was hard-fought, with Federalists and Anti-Federalists lobbying for and against the Constitution, respectively. The tide turned in Massachusetts, where the "vote now, amend later" compromise helped secure victory, paving the way for the Constitution's eventual ratification. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, enacting the new government.
The journey to ratification was long and arduous, with the Constitution not being ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document. The Bill of Rights was ratified at the end of the following year, and the capital was established on July 16, 1790.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was completed on September 17, 1787, after about 4 months of drafting.
The drafting of the US Constitution began on May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention met for the first time.
The initial purpose of the convention was to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was the country's first constitution.
The Constitution was ratified by the required nine of the thirteen states by 1789. However, it was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document.
The ratification of the Constitution marked the establishment of a powerful central government and the transition from the Articles of Confederation to the new form of government outlined in the Constitution.
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