Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 of the 41 delegates present, marking the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention. The journey to this milestone began in February 1787, when the Confederation Congress called for a convention of state delegates to propose revisions to the Articles of Confederation, which served as the country's first constitution. The convention assembled in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, with delegates from 12 states in attendance, and they embarked on the task of crafting a new form of government. Thus, the process of writing and finalizing the United States Constitution spanned a period of approximately seven months, from the initial call for a convention to the signing of 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 |
| Purpose of the Convention | To revise the Articles of Confederation |
| Outcome of the Convention | Proposal and creation of a new form of government |
| Number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 38 out of 41 delegates |
| Date the Constitution was signed | September 17, 1787 |
| Date the ratification process began | September 17, 1787 |
| Date the Constitution became the official framework of the US government | June 21, 1788 |
| Number of states that ratified the Constitution by June 21, 1788 | 9 out of 13 |
| First state to ratify the Constitution | Delaware |
| Date of the first federal elections | December 15, 1788 |
| Date the new government was set to begin | March 4, 1789 |
| Date the Constitution was ratified by all states | May 29, 1790 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787
The convention commenced on May 25, 1787, at the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. The delegates, including notable figures such as George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, sought to revise the Articles of Confederation and address the challenges facing the country. They recognised the need for a stronger central government that could provide order and stability while navigating the complexities of state interests and powers.
As the convention unfolded, the delegates grappled with contentious issues, including congressional representation and the thorny question of slavery. They debated whether representation should be based on population or divided equally among the states, ultimately compromising with a mixed representation system. On the issue of slavery, they agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person and allowed the slave trade to continue until 1808.
The convention also witnessed the formation of the Committee of Detail, composed of John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson. This committee was tasked with drafting a constitution that reflected the resolutions and compromises reached during the convention. The committee's work laid the foundation for the final document that would shape the country's future.
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 underwent a ratification process, requiring approval by nine of the 13 existing states. The journey toward ratification was not without challenges, with Anti-Federalists opposing the Constitution due to concerns about centralised power. However, the Massachusetts Compromise, reached in February 1788, addressed these issues by stipulating that amendments would be proposed to protect rights, resulting in the Bill of Rights.
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The Committee of Detail was tasked with writing the first draft
The Constitution of the United States was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The signing of the Constitution was an extraordinary achievement, as the delegates were tasked with revising the existing government, but they ended up creating a completely new form of government. The delegates represented diverse interests and views, and they crafted compromises to address contentious issues.
The process of drafting the Constitution began with the convening of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in May 1787. The delegates decided to keep the proceedings confidential, allowing them to speak freely. While the initial purpose was to revise the Articles of Confederation, the convention ultimately aimed to redesign the government. The convention faced challenges due to differing opinions on issues such as congressional representation.
Amidst these discussions, the members of the convention appointed a Committee of Detail to create the first draft of the Constitution. This committee included Nathaniel Gorham of Massachusetts, John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, James Wilson, and Oliver Ellsworth. The other delegates took a 10-day break while this committee worked on drafting the Constitution. The committee's task was significant, requiring precision in capturing agreements and equivocation in addressing points of contention.
The Committee of Detail referenced various sources in their drafting process, including state constitutions, the Articles of Confederation, plans submitted to the convention, and other available material. They also drew from models of Classical Antiquity and the British governmental tradition of mixed government. The Declaration of Independence served as a crucial guide for its articulation of self-government and fundamental human rights. Additionally, the writings of European political philosophers like Montesquieu and John Locke influenced their work.
The committee's draft included provisions that had not been previously discussed by the convention, particularly those that were not expected to be controversial. They addressed issues such as the powers of the national government and states, and they made concessions on the contentious issue of slavery. The committee's work laid the foundation for the first workable constitutional plan, and it continued to meet until early September, making further revisions.
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The draft constitution was proposed in September 1787
The drafting of the United States Constitution began on May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention met for the first time at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The convention was called to revise 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.
During the convention, a Committee of Detail, composed of John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson, was tasked with drafting a constitution reflective of the Resolutions passed by the convention. The committee presented a 23-article (plus preamble) constitution, which formed the basis for further discussion and deliberation.
On September 17, 1787, the Convention concluded with the signing of the new U.S. Constitution by 38 out of 41 delegates present. The final document was engrossed by Jacob Shallus and signed by 39 delegates, including George Reed, who signed on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware. The delegates had gathered to revise the existing government but ended up creating a completely new one, establishing a powerful central government that addressed the concerns of the time.
The draft constitution, also known as the "Frame of Government," was proposed and adopted on September 17, 1787, marking a significant step in the formation of the United States of America. The ratification process for the Constitution began immediately, with Delaware becoming the first state to ratify it on December 7, 1787. The journey to achieving unanimous ratification by all states was long and challenging, with Rhode Island being the final state to approve the document on May 29, 1790.
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38 delegates signed the Constitution
The United States Constitution, one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world, was signed by 38 delegates on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing occurred during the final session of the Constitutional Convention, which had been convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, the country's first constitution.
The Constitutional Convention, which began in May 1787, brought together 55 delegates from 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which refused to send delegates). The delegates represented a wide range of interests and views, and their task was not an easy one. They debated fiercely over issues such as congressional representation and slavery, eventually crafting a powerful central government and a series of compromises that became the foundation of the new Constitution.
The final document, engrossed by Jacob Shallus, was not unanimously approved. Several delegates left before the signing ceremony, and three of the remaining 42 refused to sign. Of the 39 signatures on the Constitution, 38 were from delegates, and one was from George Read, who signed on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, who was absent. Benjamin Franklin, at 81 the oldest signer, summed up the sentiments of those who did sign, acknowledging that while there were parts of the Constitution he did not approve of, he accepted it because he "expected no better" and was "not sure that it [was] not the best".
The delegates who signed the Constitution had taken part in the American Revolution, with seven having signed the Declaration of Independence and 30 having served on active military duty. They were aware of the challenges facing the young country and sought to create a strong central government to address them. The Constitution laid out the framework for the nation's federal government and delineated the functions of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
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The ratification process began in December 1787
The writing of the US Constitution was a long and arduous process. The Constitutional Convention first met on May 25, 1787, and concluded on September 17, 1787, with the signing of the new US Constitution by 38 out of 41 delegates. However, the Constitution did not become the official framework of the US government until June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it.
The tide turned in Massachusetts, where the "vote now, amend later" compromise helped secure victory and set the stage for the final holdouts. The Massachusetts Compromise, reached in February 1788, stipulated that amendments would be proposed to protect rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press, which became the Bill of Rights. This compromise played a crucial role in securing ratification by Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and, finally, New Hampshire on June 21, 1788.
The journey to ratification was a complex and challenging process, with intense debates and compromises. The delegates had to navigate competing interests and views to craft a document that would form the foundation of the US government. The ratification process concluded on May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island, the final state, ratified the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written and signed on September 17, 1787, after three months of closed-door meetings that began on May 25, 1787.
The US Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to approve it. However, it was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
The US Constitution was ratified in 1788, and the Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution by the end of 1791.
The US Constitution has been amended numerous times since its ratification. The first amendment, known as the Bill of Rights, was ratified by the end of 1791. The most recent amendment, the Twenty-second Amendment, was ratified in 1951.
