Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 or 39 delegates, depending on the source. The process of drafting the document took around three months, from the time the Constitutional Convention first assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787. The Constitution was ratified by the required nine of the 13 states on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it. However, it was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the Constitutional Convention | May 1787 |
| Date of signing of the Constitution | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of delegates signing the Constitution | 38 or 39 out of 41 |
| Date of ratification | June 21, 1788 |
| Number of states ratifying the Constitution | 9 out of 13 |
| Date of first federal elections | December 15, 1788 |
| Date of official implementation of the Constitution | March 4, 1789 |
| Date of ratification by all states | May 29, 1790 |
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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, marking the beginning of a remarkable journey towards the creation of a powerful central government. Fifty-five delegates, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, played a pivotal role in this historic gathering.
Initially, the delegates had gathered with the intention of revising the Articles of Confederation, which had been America's first constitution. However, by mid-June, their aspirations had shifted towards a more ambitious goal: completely redesigning the government. This decision reflected their dissatisfaction with the limitations of the Articles, which lacked enforcement powers, struggled with regulating commerce, and faced challenges in conducting foreign policy.
The delegates faced significant disagreements, with one of the fiercest arguments revolving around congressional representation. They grappled with the question of whether representation should be based on population or divided equally among the states. A compromise was eventually reached, with each state allocated one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate.
Another contentious issue was slavery, which threatened to derail the Union. The delegates agreed to temporarily resolve this question by allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808 and by counting enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person. These compromises were indicative of the complex negotiations that shaped the Constitution.
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia continued until September 1787, when 38 delegates signed the Constitution, marking the culmination of months of intense debate and compromise. The delegates had created a model of government that relied on a series of checks and balances, dividing federal authority between the Legislative, Judicial, and Executive branches. The Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting foreign relations.
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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. It served as a "league of friendship" for the 13 independent states, with each state retaining sovereignty. The Articles outlined a Congress with each state holding one vote, and ratification by all 13 states was required to enact the Confederation.
However, the Articles had limitations. The central government had limited powers, such as in assembling delegates, raising funds, regulating commerce, and printing money. It couldn't enforce rules, tax, or set commercial policy. The government's weaknesses became apparent, and the country seemed to be on the brink of collapse due to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade.
In 1786, some states met to address interstate protectionist trade barriers, and more states became interested in revising the Articles. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, with delegates from various states. The delegates aimed to revise the Articles of Confederation, but they soon decided to create a new constitution and form of government.
The delegates, representing diverse interests and views, crafted compromises. They agreed on congressional representation, giving each state one representative for every 30,000 people in the House and two in the Senate. They also agreed to continue the slave trade until 1808. The new constitution gave more power to the central government, addressing the difficulties of interstate relationships. The delegates aimed for a government resembling a republic as envisioned by Enlightenment philosophers.
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By mid-June, they decided to create a new government
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, almost four months after the Constitutional Convention first assembled in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787. The delegates had gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation, but by mid-June, they had decided to create a new government.
The Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, gave 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. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared their country was on the brink of collapse.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention shuttered the windows of the State House and swore secrecy so they could speak freely. They were wary about centralized power and loyal to their states, but they wanted to create a powerful central government. Representing wildly different interests and views, they crafted compromises. One of the fiercest arguments was over congressional representation—should it be based on population or divided equally among the states? They compromised by giving each state one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate.
They agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person, and temporarily resolved the issue of slavery by agreeing that the slave trade could continue until 1808. The delegates signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787, and it was ratified by the required nine of the 13 states, with Delaware being the first state to do so on December 7, 1787. The Constitution became the official framework of the US government on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it.
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The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The US Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in the world, was signed on September 17, 1787. The signing came after a long and arduous process of ratification, with the country being governed by the Articles of Confederation until that point. The Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, and the ability to print money. This led to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear the young country apart.
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with delegates from all 13 states in attendance. The delegates had initially gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation, but by mid-June, they had decided to create an entirely new form of government. They compromised on congressional representation, agreeing to give 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 and temporarily resolved the issue of slavery by allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808.
The Constitution was signed by 38 out of 41 delegates present, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The delegates, representing diverse interests and views, crafted a powerful central government, compromising to address their differing perspectives. The Constitution's main provisions included seven articles that defined the basic framework of the federal government, with the first three articles embodying the doctrine of the separation of powers.
The signing of the Constitution did not legally enact it, as ratification by nine of the thirteen states was required for it to take effect. The founders bypassed the state legislatures, calling for special ratifying conventions in each state. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The Constitution officially became the framework of the US government on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document, and the Bill of Rights was ratified the following year.
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It was ratified by nine of the 13 states
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 or 39 delegates. However, this did not enact the Constitution. Per Article VII, it was agreed that the document would only be binding once ratified by nine of the 13 states.
The road to ratification was challenging. The Federalists, who believed in a strong central government, faced opposition from the Anti-Federalists, who were against the Constitution as it created a powerful central government and lacked a bill of rights. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay produced "The Federalist Papers", a collection of 85 essays explaining and defending the proposed new government, to lobby for votes in favour of ratification.
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787. This was followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The tide turned in Massachusetts, where the "vote now, amend later" compromise helped secure victory. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, enacting it as the official framework of the US government.
The remaining four states to ratify the Constitution were Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and, finally, New Hampshire. The first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, and the new government was set to begin on March 4, 1789. In the nation's first presidential election, George Washington was elected President and John Adams was elected Vice President.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, three to four months after the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787.
The Constitutional Convention was a gathering of delegates from all 13 states to amend the Articles of Confederation, which was the first US Constitution.
The delegates at the convention wanted to revise the existing government, but by mid-June, they had decided to create a new form of government.
The convention resulted in the proposal and creation of a completely new form of government, with a powerful central government. The new constitution was signed by 38 or 39 out of 41 delegates present.
The Constitution stated that it would not be binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 existing states. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it, and it officially became the framework of the US government.
