Simone Lawson
The U.S. Constitution, which outlines the framework of the nation's federal government and its three branches, was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787. Of the 74 individuals selected to attend the Constitutional Convention, 55 delegates participated, with 13 dropping out. Three of the remaining 42 delegates refused to sign the final draft, resulting in a total of 39 signatures on the proposed constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of individuals selected to attend the Constitutional Convention | 74 |
| Total number of delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention | 55 |
| Total number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 39 |
| Number of delegates who refused to sign the Constitution | 3 |
| Age of the youngest signer, Jonathan Dayton | 26 |
| Age of the oldest signer, Benjamin Franklin | 81 |
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What You'll Learn
39 individuals signed the US Constitution
The US Constitution, which was signed on September 17, 1787, outlines the framework of the nation's federal government and describes how its three branches (executive, judicial, and legislative) should function. Of the 74 individuals selected to attend the Constitutional Convention, 55 delegates participated, and 39 signed the Constitution. The Federal Convention of 1787 was convened due to concerns about the Articles of Confederation, which established the first national government but lacked the power to raise revenue or conduct diplomatic relations. The delegates, representing 12 of the 13 states, crafted a powerful central government while protecting the prerogatives of the states.
The signatories of the US Constitution included George Washington, who signed first as president of the Convention, followed by the other delegates grouped by states from north to south. Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest signer, and Jonathan Dayton, at 26, was the youngest. Seven of the signatories had also signed the Declaration of Independence, and thirty had served on active military duty. The delegates represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, or state government.
The signing of the US Constitution was an extraordinary achievement, as the delegates created a completely new system of government, compromising between wildly different interests and views. The Constitution has endured as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world. The ratification process further demonstrated the delegates' commitment to protecting state interests, as they bypassed state legislatures and called for special ratifying conventions in each state. Ratification by nine of the thirteen states enacted the new government.
The US Constitution has seven articles, the first three of which establish the separation of powers doctrine and divide the federal government into three branches. The remaining articles address the relationship between states and the federal government, the process for amending the Constitution, and the supremacy clause, which asserts the preemption of federal law over state law in conflicts. The closing endorsement of the Constitution serves as an authentication function, providing essential documentation of its validity.
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74 individuals were selected to attend the convention
The United States Constitution, which lays out the framework for the nation's federal government and outlines how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) are to function, was signed by 39 individuals. However, 74 individuals were initially selected to attend the Constitutional Convention.
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which established the first national government of the United States. However, individuals such as Alexander Hamilton and James Madison wanted to create a new system of government. The Convention was held in Philadelphia from May 25 to September 17, 1787, and resulted in the creation of a new frame of government, the Constitution of the United States.
Twelve of the thirteen original states were represented at the convention, with Rhode Island refusing to send any delegates. The 74 delegates chosen represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, or state government. Many had also taken part in the American Revolution, with seven having signed the Declaration of Independence and thirty having served on active military duty.
Of the 74 delegates chosen, only 55 attended the convention, and it is believed that there were never more than 46 delegates present at any one time. Several delegates left before the signing ceremony, and three of the 42 who remained refused to sign the final draft, resulting in only 39 signatures on the Constitution.
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55 delegates participated in the convention
The US Constitution outlines the framework for the nation's federal government and describes how its three branches (executive, legislative, and judicial) should function. The Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia from May to September 1787, was originally intended to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, individuals like Alexander Hamilton and James Madison wanted to create a new system of government.
Seventy-four individuals were selected to attend the convention, but only 55 delegates participated. The delegates represented 12 of the 13 states, with Rhode Island refusing to send any delegates. Of the 55 delegates who attended, 13 dropped out, either due to personal reasons or in protest of decisions made during the discussions. Three individuals remained engaged in the work of the convention until its completion but refused to sign the final draft.
The delegates who attended the convention ranged in age, with the youngest being 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton and the oldest being 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair. The delegates had a variety of experiences, with many having served in the American Revolution, signed the Declaration of Independence, or served on active military duty. They represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with backgrounds in local, colonial, or state government.
The final draft of the Constitution was signed by 39 delegates, with George Read signing on behalf of John Dickinson, who was absent. The signatures were grouped by state, progressing from north to south. The signing of the Constitution was an extraordinary achievement, as the delegates crafted a powerful central government while navigating wildly different interests and views.
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12 of the 13 states were represented
The US Constitution, which was signed on September 17, 1787, outlines the framework of the nation's federal government and describes how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) should function. The document was signed by 39 individuals, out of the 74 delegates who were chosen to attend the Constitutional Convention.
Of the 13 original states, 12 were represented at the signing of the US Constitution. Rhode Island was the only state that refused to send delegates to the convention. The 55 delegates who attended the convention in Philadelphia represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, or state government. Many had participated in the American Revolution, and 30 had served on active military duty.
The signing of the US Constitution was the culmination of a process that began with a call for a convention of state delegates to propose revisions to the Articles of Confederation. The convention, which assembled in Philadelphia, was intended to address the "exigencies of government and the preservation of the Union." A quorum of seven states was eventually reached on May 25, 1787, and deliberations began.
The final draft of the Constitution, presented to the convention on September 12, 1787, contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. The document was signed by 39 delegates, including John Dickinson, who authorized George Read to sign on his behalf due to illness. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, also signed the document to authenticate corrections.
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The youngest signer was 26, the oldest 81
The United States Constitution was signed by 39 delegates, out of 55 who attended the Constitutional Convention. The youngest signer of the Constitution was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, a politician from New Jersey. Dayton was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly in 1786-1787 and again in 1790, and served in the New Jersey Legislative Council in 1789. He was later elected to the US House of Representatives in 1791 and served as its third Speaker from 1795 to 1799. The Ohio city of Dayton was named after him.
The oldest signer of the Constitution was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81. Franklin was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair. He was the first signer to die, in April 1790. Franklin delivered an address strongly endorsing the Constitution despite any perceived imperfections. He proposed that the Constitution be endorsed by the delegates as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present, and the convention agreed.
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Frequently asked questions
39 individuals signed the Constitution.
70 individuals were chosen to attend the convention, though sources also state the number to be 74.
55 delegates attended the convention, though sources state that there were never more than 46 delegates present at any one time.
