Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution is a very important document that explains how the US government works. It describes the three parts of the government: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. The Constitution was created at a special meeting called the Constitutional Convention in 1787, where 70 people were chosen to represent 12 of the 13 states (Rhode Island did not send anyone). Of those 70 people, or delegates, 55 attended the meeting, but only 39 signed the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of delegates chosen to attend the Constitutional Convention | 70 or 74 |
| Number of delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention | 55 |
| Number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 39 |
| Youngest delegate | Jonathan Dayton, aged 26 |
| Oldest delegate | Benjamin Franklin, aged 81 |
| Date the Constitution was signed | 17th September 1787 |
| Place of the Constitutional Convention | Philadelphia |
| States that did not send delegates | Rhode Island |
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What You'll Learn
Why did the delegates meet?
The delegates met to discuss and address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation had established the first national government, but it lacked the power to carry out essential functions effectively.
The Articles protected the sovereignty of the states, but this was at the expense of the central government, which did not have the authority to raise revenue, conduct diplomatic relations, or manage the western territories. This meant that the young country was at risk of collapse, as the states were in dispute over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade.
The delegates, therefore, met to revise the Articles of Confederation and to create a stronger central government that could address these issues. They wanted to ensure that the country could function properly and not fall apart.
The delegates came from different states and backgrounds, with varying interests and views. They debated and crafted compromises to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. They ended up creating a new constitution, which we now know as the Constitution of the United States. This new constitution expanded the power of the central government while still protecting the rights of the states.
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Who were the delegates?
The original 13 states of the US, except Rhode Island, appointed 70 individuals to the Constitutional Convention. However, only 55 delegates attended the sessions, and of those, 39 actually signed the Constitution. The delegates represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, and state governments. 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 delegates ranged in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who was so unwell that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair. George Washington, as president of the Convention, was the first to sign the Constitution, followed by the other delegates, grouped by states from north to south.
Some of the notable signatories of the US Constitution include:
- George Washington: President of the Convention
- Benjamin Franklin: The oldest signatory, who gave an address strongly endorsing the Constitution
- Jonathan Dayton: The youngest signatory, aged 26
- George Read: Signed on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, who was absent
- William Jackson: The convention's secretary, who signed to authenticate corrections
Three delegates refused to sign the Constitution: Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, George Mason of Virginia, and Edmund Randolph.
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How many delegates were there?
The original 13 states of the US, except Rhode Island, appointed 70 individuals to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. However, only 55 delegates attended the sessions. These delegates were tasked with revising the existing government structure, which was outlined in the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation had established the first national government, but it lacked the power to raise revenue, conduct diplomatic relations, or manage western territories effectively.
Of the 55 delegates who attended the sessions, only 39 actually signed the Constitution. The youngest signer was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, and the oldest was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair due to his infirmity. The delegates who signed the Constitution represented 12 of the 13 states, with Rhode Island refusing to send any delegates.
The signing of the Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, and it was an extraordinary achievement. The delegates, representing diverse interests and views, crafted compromises to create a powerful central government while protecting the prerogatives of the states. The Constitution laid the framework for the nation's federal government and outlined how its three branches—the legislative, executive, and judicial—would function.
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What did they decide?
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 decided on a number of important issues. Firstly, they agreed that a strong central government was necessary, but also wanted to protect the sovereignty of individual states. This was a tricky balance to strike, as the existing system, the Articles of Confederation, had given the central government very little power. The delegates wanted the central government to be able to carry out essential functions, like raising revenue, conducting diplomatic relations, and managing western territories.
The delegates also had to decide how the different branches of government would function. They agreed on a bicameral legislature, with proportional representation in the House and equal state representation in the Senate. This was a compromise between larger and smaller states, as it gave both groups some representation. The final plan, known as the Great Compromise, also included a supreme court with limited jurisdiction.
Another important decision was how to ratify the Constitution. The delegates knew that members of state legislatures would be reluctant to give up power to a national government, so they decided to bypass them. Instead, they called for special ratifying conventions in each state. This meant that the new government could be enacted with ratification by 9 of the 13 states.
Finally, the delegates had to decide whether or not to sign the Constitution. Of the 55 delegates who attended the convention, 39 ultimately signed. Three delegates refused to sign, and several others left before the signing ceremony. Benjamin Franklin, who was 81 years old and had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair, summed up the sentiments of those who did sign:
> "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 expect no better and...I am not sure that it is not the best."
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What happened after they signed?
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates. The signing took place in Philadelphia, and the document was then submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City, the nation's temporary capital, just three days later.
The signing of the Constitution was the culmination of a process that began with the Federal Convention of 1787. This convention was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation had established the first national government, but they lacked the power to raise revenue, conduct diplomatic relations, or manage western territories effectively.
After the Federal Convention, the process of getting the Constitution ratified by the states began. This was a challenging process, as the Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution because it created a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had just overthrown, and it lacked a bill of rights. However, the Federalists, who believed that a strong central government was necessary to face the nation's challenges, eventually prevailed, and the Constitution was ratified by enough states to become the nation's governing document.
The US Constitution has been amended several times since its ratification. The convention method of ratification has only been used once, for the Twenty-first Amendment. The process of amending the Constitution is generally very difficult, and it has been amended less frequently than any other democracy in the world.
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Frequently asked questions
70 individuals were chosen to attend the Constitutional Convention.
55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention.
39 delegates signed the Constitution.
The youngest delegate who signed the Constitution was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin.
