Simone Lawson
The U.S. Constitution was drafted over a few hot summer months in 1787, but the process of writing and ratifying it took much longer. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, and the final document was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates. The drafting process was intense and passionate, with delegates representing wildly differing interests and views. The proposal was then debated, criticised, and expounded upon clause by clause for several months. The ratification process was a nail-biter, with only six of 13 states initially reporting a pro-Constitution majority. The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, promised amendments to secure individual liberties, which led to the Anti-Federalists' eventual collapse. The Constitution was finally ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total time to write the US Constitution | 1.5 years or 2.5 years |
| Total number of months to write the US Constitution | A few months or 3 months |
| Date the US Constitution was signed | September 17, 1787 |
| Date the US Constitution was written | 1787 |
| Date the US Constitution was ratified | June 21, 1788 |
| Date the new government under the US Constitution started operating | March 4, 1789 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787
- The drafting process took three hot summer months
- The proposal was debated, criticised, and expounded upon clause by clause
- Ratification took time, with the new government founded on it starting in March 1789
- The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787
The gathering in Philadelphia brought together delegates from different states, with the notable absence of Rhode Island, to engage in thoughtful and passionate debates. The convention lasted for months, with delegates working to revise the existing government structure and ultimately creating a powerful central government. The process was not without its challenges, as factions emerged, including Federalists and Anti-Federalists, who held differing views on the role of central authority.
The convention witnessed the emergence of leaders such as James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, who played pivotal roles in shaping the discussions. Madison, often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution," was a driving force throughout the summer of 1787, and his insights are preserved in his detailed notes on the deliberations. The contributions of these individuals and the delegates laid the foundation for a democratic form of governance, empowering citizens to select their government—a revolutionary concept at the time.
The Constitutional Convention culminated in the drafting and signing of the Constitution in 1787. The final document was the result of careful consideration and compromise, addressing a range of interests and perspectives. The ratification process further involved state legislatures, with the Federalists advocating for a strong central government and the Anti-Federalists pushing for protections of individual liberties. The Constitution has since endured as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions globally, shaping the trajectory of world history and inspiring democratic ideals.
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The drafting process took three hot summer months
The drafting process for the U.S. Constitution took three hot summer months in 1787. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May of that year, with only the Virginia and Pennsylvania delegations present at first. A quorum of seven states was eventually met on May 25, and 12 states were represented, with Rhode Island refusing to participate. The delegates debated, criticised, and built upon the existing government clause by clause, wary of centralised power and loyal to their states. They crafted compromises, representing wildly differing interests and views.
The delegates appointed a Committee of Detail to put its decisions in writing, and a Committee of Style and Arrangement condensed 23 articles into seven in less than four days. The final form of the Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with George Reed signing for John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. It was an extraordinary achievement, standing today as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world.
The Constitution was a charter of government that was ratified by the states and is the supreme law of the land. It was written and signed in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. This was the same place the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. The Constitution has been an inspiration, changing the trajectory of world history for the perpetual benefit of mankind. It put governance in the hands of the people, allowing citizens to select their own form of democratic government.
The ratification process for the Constitution was a nail-biter, with the Federalists and Anti-Federalists battling it out. The Federalists believed in the need for a strong central government, while the Anti-Federalists opposed the creation of a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had just overthrown. The tide turned in Massachusetts, with a "vote now, amend later" compromise helping to secure victory. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, and by September 17, 1788, 11 states had ratified the Constitution. The new government under the Constitution began operating on March 4, 1789.
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The proposal was debated, criticised, and expounded upon clause by clause
The writing of the United States Constitution was a lengthy and complex process, involving passionate debates and careful consideration. The final document was signed on September 17, 1787, but the road to its completion was a long one.
The delegates appointed a Committee of Detail to compile their decisions, and a Committee of Style and Arrangement to condense and refine the document. The proposal was then sent to the states for ratification, a process that took time and faced opposition from Anti-Federalists, who fought against it due to their concerns over the creation of a powerful central government. The Federalists, on the other hand, believed that a strong central government was necessary. This led to a back-and-forth between the two factions, with the Federalists eventually relenting and promising amendments to secure individual liberties.
The ratification process required the approval of nine out of thirteen states, and by June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify. The close margins in states like Virginia and New York indicated that the majority of people in the country might have opposed the Constitution, and it was only through the promise of future amendments that the Federalists secured victory. The call for a bill of rights, which would ensure individual liberties, was a key demand of the Anti-Federalists and played a significant role in the debate.
The process of writing and ratifying the United States Constitution took approximately one and a half to two and a half years, including the drafting and finalisation of the document, as well as the state-by-state ratification process. The final Constitution, signed by 39 delegates, created a powerful central government and stands as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world.
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Ratification took time, with the new government founded on it starting in March 1789
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratification took a few months. The new government founded on it started operating on March 4, 1789.
The process of drafting the US Constitution began in May 1787, when the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia. The final document was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787, marking the end of the drafting process. This was just the beginning, however, as the proposed Constitution still had to be ratified by the states.
The ratification process was not without its challenges. Two factions emerged: the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. The Federalists believed that a strong central government was necessary to address the nation's challenges. On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists were concerned about the creation of a powerful central government, reminding them of the one they had just overthrown. They also argued for the inclusion of a bill of rights to secure individual liberties.
The ratification process began with state legislatures voting in favour of ratification. By the end of 1787, three states had voted unanimously for ratification: Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. In 1788, Connecticut and Georgia followed suit, bringing the total to six states. However, leaders in key states like Virginia, New York, and Massachusetts expressed concerns, making the outcome less certain.
The Federalists, fearing defeat, relented and promised to add amendments to secure individual liberties. This led to a shift, with New Hampshire becoming the ninth state to ratify on June 21, 1788. With this, the required number of states for ratification was achieved, and the Congress of the Confederation set dates for choosing senators and representatives, electing the first president, and starting the new government under the Constitution.
The new government officially began on March 4, 1789, with the convening of the first Congress in New York City. This marked the end of the ratification process and the beginning of a new era under the US Constitution.
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The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The Constitutional Convention was led by prominent figures such as George Washington, who was elected president of the convention, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. The delegates appointed a Committee of Detail, composed of John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, Nathaniel Gorham, Oliver Ellsworth, and James Wilson, to draft the Constitution based on the Resolutions passed by the convention. The committee proposed a 23-article constitution, which was then condensed into seven articles by a Committee of Style and Arrangement in less than four days.
The Constitution that emerged from this process established a powerful central government, reflecting the delegates' wariness of centralized power and their loyalty to their individual states. It represented a compromise between wildly different interests and views, and it stands today as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions globally. The signing of the Constitution was followed by a ratification process, with each state holding a special ratifying convention. Despite opposition from Anti-Federalists, who fought against the Constitution due to its creation of a powerful central government, the required nine out of thirteen states eventually ratified it, officially establishing the new government.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was drafted over three hot summer months of passionate debate.
The US Constitution was written in 1787.
The US Constitution was written in Philadelphia in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall.
The US Constitution was ratified in 1788, with New Hampshire becoming the ninth state to do so on June 21.
Article VII of the Constitution established that nine of the 13 states needed to ratify the Constitution for it to be established.
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