Jonah Patel
The US Constitution is a document of around 4,000 words, handwritten by Jacob Shallus on four or five sheets of parchment. The handwritten document is kept behind glass in the upper level of the National Archives in the Rotunda for those crucial Charters of Freedom. The social art project 'Handwriting the Constitution' invites people from all walks of life to meet in public spaces to handwrite the US Constitution or other documents written to protect human rights and freedoms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Initiator | Morgan O'Hara |
| Year of initiation | 2017 |
| Type | Social art project |
| Focus | Human rights and freedoms |
| Number of sessions | 87 |
| Number of participants | 2000 |
| Original copy | Written on four pieces of animal skin in iron gall ink using a quill |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution is written in Roundhand
The United States Constitution was engrossed by Jacob Shallus, who served as Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly from 1750 to 1796. Shallus wrote the Constitution on four pieces of animal skin using iron gall ink and a quill, likely made from goose feathers. The document itself is written in "Roundhand," a style of cursive writing that predates the Spencerian and Palmer styles.
Roundhand is characterised by its quintessential line variance, which would be difficult to achieve with most contemporary non-flexible writing instruments. The use of a quill lends certain idiosyncrasies to the writing, evident in the final product.
The US Constitution is a significant document that outlines the basic framework of the federal government and the separation of powers into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. It is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution currently in force worldwide.
The document was penned during the Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention, which took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The Constitution was signed on the final day of the convention and later ratified by the states, becoming the supreme law of the land.
The original handwritten Constitution is preserved at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Visitors can view the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.
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It was penned by Jacob Shallus
The United States Constitution was penned by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Shallus used iron gall ink and a quill, likely made from a goose feather, to write the document on four pieces of animal skin. The style of handwriting is known as "Roundhand", which is characterised by its distinctive line variance.
Shallus' role in writing the Constitution was largely administrative, as the document was the result of months of passionate and thoughtful deliberation among the delegates of the Constitutional Convention. Many individuals made important contributions to the content of the Constitution, including James Madison, often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution". Madison's notes from the convention provide valuable insights into the proceedings and the ideas that shaped the final document.
Other notable contributors to the Constitution include members of the Committee of Detail, such as Oliver Ellsworth, Nathaniel Gorham, Edmund Randolph, John Rutledge, and James Wilson. The Committee of Style, which included Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, and Gouverneur Morris, also played a significant role in shaping the document. Benjamin Franklin and George Washington were among the other notable delegates present at the convention.
The Constitution was written and signed in 1787 in Philadelphia, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. The original signed, handwritten Constitution is on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
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It was written on animal skin
The United States Constitution was engrossed by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. It was written on four pieces of animal skin in iron gall ink, using a quill, likely a goose quill. The document itself is written in "Roundhand," a style that predates the Spencerian and Palmer styles of cursive. Roundhand is known for its quintessential line variance, which would be difficult to achieve with most contemporary non-flexible writing instruments.
The process of preparing animal skin for writing is quite involved. First, the skin is removed from the animal, and any hair or flesh is cleaned away. It is then stretched on a wooden frame, and while it is stretched, the skin is scraped with a special curved knife. To create tension in the skin, the scraping is alternated with wetting and drying. This process is repeated several times until the skin reaches the right thickness and tautness. Parchment, or animal skin prepared for writing, has traditionally been used for important documents due to its strength and stability.
The U.S. Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It is also the shortest, at 4,440 words and only four pages. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at what is now known as Independence Hall. It was written during the Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention, which convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787.
The Constitution lays out the structure of the U.S. government in the form of three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. The legislative branch makes the laws, the executive branch executes them, and the judicial branch interprets them. The Constitution also sets up a system of checks and balances to ensure that no one branch has too much power. It divides power between the states and the federal government and describes the purposes and duties of the government.
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It has 27 amendments
The US Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in the world, is comprised of seven articles that define the framework of the federal government. It was written and signed in 1787 and has since been amended 27 times.
The Constitution was penned by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, in "Roundhand" using a quill, likely a goose quill, and iron gall ink on four pieces of animal skin. It was signed in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, in Philadelphia.
The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I); the executive, consisting of the President and subordinate officers (Article II); and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III).
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments include the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to peaceably assemble. Amendments 13-15 are known as the Reconstruction Amendments.
Since the Constitution was put into operation in 1789, 33 amendments have been proposed by the US Congress and sent to the states for ratification. Twenty-seven of these have been ratified by the requisite number of states and are now part of the Constitution. Six amendments have been adopted by Congress but have not been ratified by the required number of states. Four of these are still pending, one has failed by its own terms, and one has failed by the terms of the resolution proposing it.
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It was signed in 1787
The US Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world, was signed in 1787. It was signed by 39 delegates at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, which had convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and it established the government of the United States.
The Constitution was drafted in secret by delegates to the convention during the summer of 1787. It was a four-page document, with each page measuring 28 by 23 inches. The words were chosen by a combination of important delegates, although most of the credit falls on James Madison. However, it was Jacob Shallus who had the duty of physically writing out the clauses. It is believed that Shallus completed the work in a single day on September 16, 1787, an impressive feat for a handwritten work of around 4,000 words.
The Constitution delineates the frame of the federal government, dividing it into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I); the executive, consisting of the president and subordinate officers (Article II); and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III). The opening words, "We the People", represented a new thought: the idea that the people, and not the states, were the source of the government's legitimacy.
The Constitution was ratified by the states and became operational in 1789. It has since been amended 27 times, with the original text and all prior amendments remaining untouched. The first ten amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, offer specific protections of individual liberty and justice and place restrictions on the powers of the government.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution is approximately 4,000 words handwritten on four sheets of parchment, each measuring 28 by 23 inches.
The US Constitution was handwritten by Jacob Shallus, a clerk, in a single day on September 16, 1787.
The original handwritten Constitution is kept at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and is available for the public to view.
Yes, Handwriting the Constitution is a social art project started by artist Morgan O'Hara in 2017. It invites people from diverse backgrounds to come together and handwrite documents that protect human rights and freedoms, including the US Constitution.
The Constitution is handwritten on five pages of parchment, including the Resolution of the Constitutional Convention, also known as the transmittal page.
