Jonah Patel
The US Constitution, one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world, was signed by 38 delegates on September 17, 1787, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The document was drafted by 55 delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island did not participate) who were appointed by state legislatures to suggest changes to the Articles of Confederation. The Committee of Detail, a group of five men, was responsible for creating the first draft of the Constitution. The committee included John Rutledge (South Carolina), Edmund Randolph (Virginia), Nathaniel Gorham (Massachusetts), Oliver Ellsworth (Connecticut), and James Wilson (Pennsylvania). James Madison is widely credited as the Founding Father who wrote the Constitution, but he was not alone.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of men who wrote the constitution | 55 men attended the convention sessions, but only 38 signed the constitution. |
| Age range of the delegates | 26 to 81 |
| Names of some of the men who wrote the constitution | James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, James Wilson, John Jay |
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What You'll Learn
70 men were chosen as representatives
The US Constitution is an essential document of American democracy. The original states, except Rhode Island, collectively appointed 70 individuals to the Constitutional Convention. However, a number of these individuals did not accept or could not attend, including Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock. In total, 55 delegates from 12 states attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, with ages ranging from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin.
The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The convention was convened 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. The delegates to the convention, representing wildly different interests and views, crafted compromises to address these issues and ultimately created a completely new form of government.
The delegates elected a committee, the Committee of Detail, to draft a proposal for the Constitution. The committee included five members: John Rutledge (South Carolina), Edmund Randolph (Virginia), Nathaniel Gorham (Massachusetts), Oliver Ellsworth (Connecticut), and James Wilson (Pennsylvania). These men were responsible for drafting the Constitution's framework, which was based on the Virginia Plan created by James Madison.
Madison is widely credited as the Founding Father who wrote the Constitution, but he was not alone. Other key authors include Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and George Washington. These men and the other delegates were educated and well-read, and their ideas on government were influenced by writers and philosophers, especially those from the Enlightenment era. One of the most influential figures was John Locke, who condemned monarchy and argued that governments derive their legitimacy from the people, not from divine sanction.
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55 delegates attended the sessions
The U.S. Constitution is one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. However, 55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention sessions.
The original states, except Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates, collectively appointed 70 individuals to the Constitutional Convention. Several of these individuals did not accept or could not attend, including Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock. The delegates who did attend ranged in age from Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, to Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
The delegates were tasked with revising the existing government but ultimately created a completely new form of government. Wary of centralized power and loyal to their states, they crafted a powerful central government. Representing a wide range of interests and views, they worked together to create compromises that would shape the future of the nation.
The ratification process for the Constitution was not easy. At the time, only six out of 13 states reported a pro-Constitution majority. The Federalists, who supported a strong central government, needed to convince at least three more states. On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists strongly opposed the Constitution, arguing that it created a centralized government that reminded them of the one they had just overthrown, and that it lacked a bill of rights. The campaign for ratification was intense, and the compromise of "vote now, amend later" played a crucial role in securing victory in Massachusetts and eventually in the final holdout states.
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39 men signed the Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states. Rhode Island was the only state that refused to send delegates. The delegates, who ranged in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, endorsed the Constitution created during the four-month-long convention.
The signing of the Constitution occurred at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The document was created during the Constitutional Convention, which was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, and couldn't print money. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young country apart.
The delegates to the convention, wary about centralized power and loyal to their states, created a powerful central government. Representing wildly different interests and views, they crafted compromises. The Constitution they drafted lays out the framework of the nation's federal government and delineates how its three branches—the legislative, executive, and judicial branches—are to function.
Of those who signed the Constitution, virtually every one had taken part in the American Revolution; seven had signed the Declaration of Independence, and thirty had served on active military duty. In general, they represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with individuals having experience in local or colonial and state government.
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6 men signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787. This came a little over a decade after the Declaration of Independence was approved and signed into effect on July 4, 1776. Six men signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
The six men who signed both documents were Roger Sherman, Robert Morris, Benjamin Franklin, George Wythe, John Hancock, and George Washington. Benjamin Franklin, aged 70, was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was 81 when he signed the Constitution, making him the oldest signer of that document as well. Franklin was so infirm at the time that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair.
George Wythe, another signatory of both documents, resigned from his position as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in June 1787 due to his wife's illness. John Hancock, who also signed both documents, was the President of the Continental Congress when the Declaration of Independence was adopted. His large, flamboyant signature on the Declaration inspired the use of the term "John Hancock" to refer to one's signature.
The Declaration of Independence was most likely engrossed by Timothy Matlack, while the Constitution was engrossed by Jacob Shallus. The Syng inkstand was used at the signing of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
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The youngest delegate was 26, the oldest was 81
The United States Constitution was the result of the collaborative efforts of 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787. These delegates brought with them a diverse array of ideas, experiences, and backgrounds, which led to the compromises and debates that shaped the Constitution. The delegates ranged in age from Jonathan Dayton, the youngest at 26, to Benjamin Franklin, the oldest at 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
The Constitutional Convention, held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 25 to September 17, 1787, was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had been the first governing document of the United States, adopted in 1777. However, the delegates soon began considering measures to replace the Articles and create a new form of government.
The delegates, appointed by state legislatures, represented 12 of the 13 original states, with Rhode Island refusing to send delegates. The wide range of ages among the delegates, from the young Dayton to the elderly Franklin, reflected the diverse perspectives and experiences that contributed to the creation of the Constitution.
The final document, signed by 39 of the 55 delegates, stands as a testament to the ability of individuals with differing viewpoints to find common ground and shape the foundation of American democracy. The Constitution's longevity and influence demonstrate the wisdom and foresight of the delegates, regardless of their age or background.
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Frequently asked questions
While there is no single answer to this question, 39 men signed the Constitution.
James Madison is widely credited as the Founding Father who wrote the US Constitution.
George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and others.
55 delegates attended the sessions of the Constitutional Convention.
The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The convention was attended by delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island did not participate) and they were appointed by state legislatures to suggest changes to the Articles of Confederation.
