Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution took around four months to draft, from the first meeting of the Constitutional Convention on May 25, 1787, to the signing of the document on September 17, 1787. The Constitutional Convention was assembled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with the initial purpose of amending the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. However, the delegates, representing a wide range of interests and views, decided to create a completely new form of government, resulting in the United States Constitution. The drafting process involved committees, debates, and compromises, and the final document was signed by 38 or 39 delegates, depending on the source. The ratification process, which began on the same day the Constitution was signed, took nearly three years to complete, ending on May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island became the final state to ratify the document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the first meeting of the Constitutional Convention | May 25, 1787 |
| Location of the first meeting of the Constitutional Convention | Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 38 or 39 |
| Date the Constitution was signed | September 17, 1787 |
| Date the ratification process for the Constitution began | September 17, 1787 |
| Date the final state, Rhode Island, ratified the Constitution | May 29, 1790 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787
The convention brought together delegates from 12 states, with the notable exception of Rhode Island, to address these pressing issues. General George Washington, a prominent figure in the American Revolution, was unanimously elected president of the convention. The proceedings commenced with a nomination by Robert Morris of Pennsylvania, who had financed the revolution. The delegates shuttered the windows of the State House, ensuring secrecy and the freedom to speak openly.
Initially, the delegates intended to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, by mid-June, they had shifted their focus to creating an entirely new form of government. This decision reflected their recognition of the need for a stronger central government that could effectively address the challenges facing the nation. The convention served as a platform for delegates to represent their diverse interests and views, forging compromises that would shape the future of the country.
A Committee of Detail, comprising Nathaniel Gorham, John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, James Wilson, and Oliver Ellsworth, was appointed to draft a constitution. This committee produced a document that served as a starting point for further discussions and negotiations. The convention also witnessed the formation of a Committee of Style and Arrangement, which included Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris. This committee was tasked with distilling the approved articles into a cohesive final draft constitution.
The Constitutional Convention concluded on September 17, 1787, with the signing of the new U.S. Constitution by 38 out of 41 delegates present. The document required ratification by nine of the 13 existing states to become binding. The ratification process began immediately, with Delaware becoming the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787. The journey towards full ratification was challenging, with opposition from Anti-Federalists who viewed the Constitution as a reminder of the overthrown central government and criticized its lack of a bill of rights. However, the Massachusetts Compromise of February 1788 addressed these concerns, paving the way for the inclusion of the Bill of Rights. The final state, Rhode Island, ratified the Constitution on May 29, 1790, marking the completion of the long and arduous journey towards establishing the framework for the United States government.
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The delegates aimed to revise the Articles of Confederation
The United States Constitution, which remains in effect to this day, was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware. The process of drafting the Constitution began in May 1787 when the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia. The delegates aimed to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution.
The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and established the United States' first central government. However, the Articles had several limitations. The central government had no enforcement powers, could not regulate commerce, print money, or effectively support a war effort. It also lacked the power to tax and set commercial policy, and its ability to settle disputes between states was limited.
The weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation became apparent in the 1780s, and there were growing calls for a stronger central government. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and George Washington were among those who feared that the young country was on the brink of collapse due to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade. Hamilton played a key role in convincing Congress to organize a Grand Convention of state delegates to revise the Articles.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing a wide range of interests and views, quickly realized that the defects in the government could not be remedied by simply altering the Articles. As a result, they decided to completely redesign the government and create a new constitution. A Committee of Detail, comprising Nathaniel Gorham of Massachusetts, John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, James Wilson, and Oliver Ellsworth, was appointed to draft the new constitution.
The final document, engrossed by Jacob Shallus, was presented at the convention's final session on September 17, 1787. While some delegates were disappointed and refused to sign, Benjamin Franklin accepted the Constitution, acknowledging that he was "not sure that it is not the best." The advocates of the Constitution sought unanimous support from all twelve states represented at the convention, and it was ratified by 9 of the 13 states, enacting a new form of government.
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By mid-June, they decided to redesign the government
The United States Constitution was drafted between May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention first met, and September 17, 1787, when the document was signed. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with the initial purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation, which served as America's first constitution.
By mid-June, the delegates had decided to completely redesign the government. This decision came about due to concerns that the young country was on the brink of collapse. The Articles of Confederation gave the Confederation Congress the authority 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. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and George Washington were key figures in advocating for a stronger central government.
The delegates of the Constitutional Convention, representing diverse interests and views, crafted compromises to create a powerful central government while remaining loyal to their states. They bypassed the state legislatures and called for special ratifying conventions in each state, understanding that state legislators would be reluctant to cede power to a national government. The new constitution would only require ratification by nine of the thirteen states to enact the new government.
The drafting process involved committees, including the Committee of Detail, tasked with creating a draft constitution, and the Committee of Style and Arrangement, responsible for distilling a final draft from the approved articles. The final document, engrossed by Jacob Shallus, was presented at the convention's final session on September 17, 1787, and signed by 38 delegates, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39 signatures. Benjamin Franklin, despite having reservations about certain parts of the Constitution, accepted it, hoping for future improvements.
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The final draft was presented in September 1787
The final draft of the United States Constitution was presented on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall). This date also marked the end of the Constitutional Convention, which had first convened on May 25, 1787, with the aim of revising the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution.
The Constitutional Convention was assembled to address the concerns of James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, who feared that the young nation was on the brink of collapse due to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. The Articles 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.
During the Constitutional Convention, the delegates decided to go beyond simply revising the Articles of Confederation and instead created a completely new form of government. A Committee of Detail, including Nathaniel Gorham of Massachusetts, John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, James Wilson, and Oliver Ellsworth, was appointed to draft the new constitution. The committee's work resulted in a document that served as the basis for further discussion and negotiation among the delegates.
The final draft of the Constitution, presented in September 1787, was the culmination of these negotiations and compromises. It was engrossed by Jacob Shallus and contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. Despite their differing interests and views, the delegates came together to create a powerful central government while remaining loyal to their states. Of the 41 delegates present, 39 signed the Constitution, with Benjamin Franklin providing a notable endorsement despite his own misgivings about certain parts of the document.
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The ratification process ended in May 1790
The United States Constitution was drafted and signed on September 17, 1787, and the ratification process began that day. The drafting process took around four months, from May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention first met, to September 17, 1787, when the delegates adopted and signed the document.
The Constitutional Convention was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. However, the delegates ultimately decided to create a completely new form of government, with a powerful central government, to address the young country's instability and the states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade.
The ratification process for the Constitution was a challenging and lengthy endeavour. The terms set by the founders required ratification by nine of the thirteen states for the new government to be enacted. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787. The ratification process was fiercely contested, with Federalists and Anti-Federalists holding opposing views on the creation of a powerful central government. The Anti-Federalists also objected to the lack of a bill of rights in the Constitution.
The tide turned in favour of ratification in Massachusetts, where a compromise was reached to propose amendments to address the concerns over protection of rights, resulting in what became the Bill of Rights. This compromise helped secure ratification in Massachusetts and eventually in the remaining holdout states. The journey to ratification highlighted the contentious nature of the Constitution and the deep divisions within the nation.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was drafted and signed in 1787, from May 25 to September 17. However, the ratification process lasted until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island, the final state, ratified the document.
The Constitutional Convention was a gathering of delegates from 13 states in Philadelphia, which took place from May to September 1787. The delegates assembled to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. However, they ultimately decided to redesign the government and create a new constitution.
Some key figures involved in the creation of the Constitution were James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, and Gouverneur Morris.
One of the main challenges was the division between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. The Federalists supported a strong central government, while the Anti-Federalists opposed it due to concerns about centralized power. Additionally, there were debates over issues such as the protection of rights, including freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
