The Signing Of The Constitution: How Many Delegates?

The United States Constitution, which outlines the framework for the nation's federal government and its three branches, was signed by 39 delegates. The signing of the Constitution took place at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1787, following a majority consensus among the delegates that the Articles of Confederation, which established the first national government, required significant revisions.

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74 individuals were chosen to attend the Constitutional Convention

The United States Constitution, which outlines the framework for the nation's federal government and how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) should function, was signed by 39 individuals. The signing took place on the final day of the Constitutional Convention, which was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Seventy-four individuals were selected to attend the Constitutional Convention, but only 55 delegates participated in the convention, with 13 dropping out either for personal reasons or in protest of decisions made during the deliberations. Of the 42 who remained, three refused to sign the final draft. The names of 39 delegates are inscribed on the proposed constitution.

The delegates who attended the convention represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with individuals having experience in local, colonial, or state government. Almost all of them had participated in the American Revolution; seven had signed the Declaration of Independence, and 30 had served in the military. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.

The Constitutional Convention was convened in response to the perceived weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which established the first national government but failed to empower the central government sufficiently to carry out essential functions. The convention debated competing proposals, such as the "New Jersey Plan," which retained the essential features of the Articles of Confederation, and ultimately produced the document known as the Constitution, which expanded the power of the central government while protecting the prerogatives of the states.

55 delegates participated in the convention

The US Constitution outlines the framework for the nation's federal government and defines how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) should operate. The Constitutional Convention, which took place in 1787, was convened to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which had established the first national government. While Rhode Island did not send any delegates, 55 delegates from the other 12 states participated in the convention, out of 70 to 74 individuals chosen.

The delegates who attended the convention in Philadelphia represented a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. The average age of the delegates was 42, with the youngest being 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton and the oldest being 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who had to be carried to the sessions due to his infirmity. The delegates included those with military experience, individuals who had signed the Declaration of Independence, and those who had served in various governmental roles.

The convention witnessed intense debates and revisions, resulting in the creation of the document we now know as the Constitution. However, only 39 of the 55 delegates who participated in the convention signed the final draft. Several delegates left before the signing ceremony, and three of those who remained refused to sign. The signatures on the Constitution served as essential documentation of its validity, indicating the unanimous consent of the states present.

The signing of the US Constitution was a significant moment in the country's history, laying the foundation for the federal government and shaping the nation's future. The delegates who participated in the convention played a crucial role in this process, contributing their diverse experiences and perspectives to the formation of the United States' governing document.

39 delegates signed the Constitution

The US Constitution, which outlines the framework for the nation's federal government and how its three branches should function, was signed by 39 delegates. The signing took place at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, which was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, the first national government. The convention was held in Philadelphia, and 74 individuals were chosen to attend, but only 55 delegates participated, with 13 dropping out for various reasons.

Of the 42 delegates who remained until the end, three refused to sign the final draft. The 39 delegates who signed the Constitution represented 12 of the 13 states, with Rhode Island refusing to send any delegates. The signatories included John Dickinson, who was unwell and authorised George Read to sign on his behalf, and the convention's secretary, William Jackson, who added a note verifying corrections.

The oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin, at 81 years old, who strongly endorsed the Constitution despite its imperfections. The youngest was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton. The signers' names were grouped by state, arranged geographically from north to south, with George Washington, as president of the Convention, signing first.

The signing of the Constitution was a significant moment in American history, as it laid the foundation for the country's federal government and expanded the power of the central government while protecting the prerogatives of the states. The delegates who signed the document represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, and state government, and many had served in the American Revolution.

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3 delegates refused to sign

The signing of the United States Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 74 delegates chosen to attend the Constitutional Convention, 55 attended the convention, and only 39 signed the Constitution. Several attendees left before the signing ceremony, and three of the 42 who remained refused to sign.

The three delegates who refused to sign the Constitution were Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, George Mason of Virginia, and Edmund Randolph, also of Virginia. Critics who shared the views of these delegates preferred the decentralised nature of the Articles of Confederation as a check on the power of the central government. They became known as "Anti-Federalists" by their opponents.

The delegates who did sign the Constitution represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, and state government. They also had military experience, with 30 having served on active duty. Seven of the signatories had also signed the Declaration of Independence.

The youngest signer was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, and the oldest was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair. Franklin summed up the sentiments of those who did sign, stating:

> "There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. I accept the Constitution [...] because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."

The signing ceremony took place in Philadelphia

The signing of the United States Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Constitutional Convention, which took place between May and September 1787, addressed the issues of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The Convention was convened in Philadelphia, with 74 delegates chosen to attend, 55 of whom participated. Of these 55, 39 signed the Constitution, with several attendees leaving before the signing ceremony and three refusing to sign.

The delegates to the Constitutional Convention created a new model of government that relied on a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. This was a significant shift from 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 could not regulate commerce or print money. The Constitution laid out the framework for the nation's federal government and delineated how its three branches would function.

The signing ceremony in Philadelphia was the culmination of a four-month-long convention that saw intense debates and revisions. The final document, endorsed by 39 delegates, included a declaration of successful completion and a statement of adoption by the states present. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note verifying four amendments made to the document and signed to authenticate its validity.

The delegates who signed the Constitution represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, and state governments. Virtually all of them had taken part in the American Revolution, with seven having signed the Declaration of Independence and around 30 serving on active military duty. The youngest signer was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, while the oldest was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81.

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