Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing occurred after a four-month-long convention, during which 55 delegates participated in debates and revisions to create the document that would become the Constitution. Of those 55 delegates, only 39 signed the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of delegates chosen | 70 or 74 |
| Number of delegates who attended | 55 |
| Number of delegates who signed | 39 |
| Number of delegates who refused to sign | 3 |
| Number of states represented at the convention | 12 |
| State that did not send delegates | Rhode Island |
| Age of the youngest signer | 26 (Jonathan Dayton) |
| Age of the oldest signer | 81 (Benjamin Franklin) |
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What You'll Learn
39 delegates signed the US Constitution
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Out of the 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, only 39 endorsed the Constitution. The delegates represented 12 states, with Rhode Island being the only state that refused to send delegates.
The delegates who signed the Constitution had a range of ages, with the youngest being 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton and the oldest being 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin. Franklin, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair, summed up the sentiments of those who signed the Constitution despite their reservations. He stated that although there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of at the time, he was unsure if he would ever come to approve of them.
The signing of the Constitution was the result of a process that began with the Continental and Confederation Congresses. These Congresses recognised the need to revise the Articles of Confederation, which established the first national government but failed to empower the central government sufficiently. This led to the convening of the Federal Convention of 1787, which debated proposals such as the "New Jersey Plan" and ultimately produced the document known as the Constitution.
The delegates who signed the Constitution had diverse backgrounds and experiences. Virtually all of them had taken part in the American Revolution, with seven having signed the Declaration of Independence and 30 having served on active military duty. Many had experience in local, colonial, or state government, and some had helped draft new state constitutions. The average age of the delegates was 42, and four of the most influential delegates—Alexander Hamilton, Edmund Randolph, Gouvernor Morris, and James Madison—were in their thirties.
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12 of 13 states were represented
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Out of the 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention, only 39 signed the Constitution. The remaining 16 delegates either left before the signing ceremony or refused to sign the document.
Twelve of the 13 states were represented at the Constitutional Convention, with Rhode Island being the only state that refused to send delegates. The 70 delegates chosen by the 12 states represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with individuals having experience in local, colonial, or state government. 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 sessions in a sedan chair due to his infirmity.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention included a mix of individuals who had served in the Continental Congress, fought in the American Revolution, or helped draft new state constitutions. The convention was presided over by George Washington, who, like many of the delegates, had also served in the Continental Congress and fought in the American Revolution. The delegates debated competing proposals, such as the "New Jersey Plan," which proposed a unicameral legislature with equal representation for all states. The final document, known as the Constitution, expanded the power of the central government while protecting the prerogatives of the states.
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Rhode Island refused to send delegates
A total of 55 delegates attended the sessions of the Constitutional Convention, with 39 signing the Constitution. However, Rhode Island refused to send delegates to the Convention in 1787, becoming the only state not to do so.
Rhode Island's absence was notable, and the state was reviled for it. The state had already gained a negative reputation due to its rampant inflation caused by printing 100,000 pounds worth of paper currency in a single month. This issue, along with Rhode Island's desire to retain state-issued paper currency, contributed to its opposition to a new Constitution. The state also shared the Anti-Federalist view that the Constitution gave too much power to the central government at the expense of the states.
Rhode Island's resistance to the Constitution was strong. Between September 1787 and January 1790, the state's legislature rejected 11 attempts to ratify the document. The state even requested an exemption from the United States, asking not to be treated as a foreign nation. However, this resistance was not solely due to ideological differences. Secession threats from Providence, Newport, and Bristol, along with fears of reprisals from the other 12 ratifying states, also played a role in Rhode Island's eventual decision to ratify.
Rhode Island's unique role in the ratification process earned it the nickname "Rogue Island." The state was the last to ratify the Constitution, doing so on May 29, 1790, more than a year after it went into effect. This ratification came after threats of commercial intercourse prohibitions and division within the state, ending Rhode Island's prolonged defiance of the national government.
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Benjamin Franklin was the oldest signer at 81
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Out of the 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, only 39 endorsed the Constitution. The youngest delegate to sign the Constitution was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, while Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest.
Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest delegate to sign the United States Constitution. He was so infirm that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair. Despite his advanced age, Franklin played a significant role in the development of the document and its endorsement. On the final day of the Constitutional Convention, Franklin delivered an address endorsing the Constitution, recognising its imperfections but accepting it nonetheless. This address, read by James Wilson, reflected the sentiments of those who did sign the Constitution, acknowledging that while it had its flaws, it was expected to be the best option available.
Franklin's address was pivotal in gaining the support of critics and fostering a sense of common accord. Following his speech, the delegates agreed to endorse the Constitution as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present. This meant that the signers subscribed to their names, not on behalf of particular states as in the Articles of Confederation, but as witnesses to the convention's proceedings. Franklin's willingness to sign the Constitution, despite his reservations, demonstrated pragmatism and a recognition of the need to meet the immediate needs of the thirteen states.
The age range of the delegates who signed the Constitution, from 26 to 81, highlights the diversity of perspectives and generations represented in the creation of this foundational document. Franklin, as the oldest signer, brought a wealth of experience and wisdom to the process, contributing to the Constitution's enduring legacy. His signature, along with those of his fellow delegates, expanded the power of the central government while safeguarding the prerogatives of the states.
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The youngest was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Out of the 55 delegates who attended the sessions, only 39 endorsed the Constitution. The delegates' ages ranged from 26 to 81. The youngest delegate to sign the Constitution was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26.
Jonathan Dayton was born in 1760 in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and served as a captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He was a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention from New Jersey and was the youngest person to sign the Constitution. Dayton was also a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and he served as the speaker of the New Jersey Assembly. He died in 1824 at the age of 64.
The average age of the delegates was 42, and four of the most influential delegates—Alexander Hamilton, Edmund Randolph, Gouvernor Morris, and James Madison—were in their thirties. The oldest delegate to sign the Constitution was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair.
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which established the first national government. However, it was recognised that the Articles needed significant revisions, particularly in empowering the central government to carry out essential functions. The delegates to the convention represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, and state governments, as well as military service.
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Frequently asked questions
Only 39 of the 55 delegates signed the constitution.
The youngest delegate to sign the constitution was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26.
The oldest delegate to sign the constitution was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81. Franklin was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
No, not all the delegates agreed with the final product. Some expressed reservations but signed the Constitution, anticipating vigorous debates within their states. Three delegates, Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, George Mason of Virginia, and Randolph, did not sign it at all.
