Simone Lawson
The US Constitution is a historic document that outlines how the government of the United States should operate. It was signed on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, and the number of signatures it bears is 39, including 38 delegates and the convention's secretary, William Jackson. The signatories were all white men and property owners, and only two of them would go on to serve as presidents. The oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, while the youngest was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of signatures | 39 |
| Number of delegates present | 41 |
| Number of delegates who refused to sign | 3 |
| Youngest signer | Jonathan Dayton (age 26) |
| Oldest signer | Benjamin Franklin (age 81) |
| First signer to die | Benjamin Franklin (died in April 1790) |
| Last signer to die | James Madison (died in June 1836) |
| Average age of signers | 42 |
| Number of signers who served in the Continental forces | At least 29 |
| Number of signers who were not native to the thirteen colonies | 7 |
| Number of states that ratified the Constitution | 13 |
| Date the Constitution was signed | September 17, 1787 |
| Location of the Constitutional Convention | Philadelphia |
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What You'll Learn
The number of signatures: 39 delegates signed
The US Constitution is a historic document that established the federal government of the United States and outlined how it should operate. It is a living document that is constantly being interpreted. The signing of the US Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, and 39 delegates signed it. The signatures appear on the final page of the document, along with a statement of adoption by the states present and a formulaic dating of its adoption.
The process of drafting the US Constitution began with the Constitutional Convention in 1787, which was attended by 70 delegates representing 12 states. Rhode Island did not send any delegates. Of the 70 delegates, only 55 attended the majority of the meetings, and there were never more than 46 present at any one time. The convention culminated with the signing of the document, and 39 delegates signed it.
The 39 signatories to the US Constitution represented 12 states, as Rhode Island did not participate in the Constitutional Convention. The delegates who signed the Constitution included Jonathan Dayton, the youngest signer at 26, and Benjamin Franklin, the oldest at 81. Franklin summed up the sentiments of those who signed, expressing his hope that the Constitution would serve as a foundation for future improvement. He stated, "There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them."
The signing of the US Constitution was a significant event in the history of the nation. The document established the office of the President of the United States, and of the 39 signers, two served as president: George Washington, who was president at the time of the signing, and James Madison, who became the fourth president. The Constitution was later ratified by special conventions in each of the then-existing thirteen American states.
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Who signed: the signers' identities
The US Constitution was signed by 39 delegates, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates). The signatures were affixed to the document on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, marking the end of a four-month-long convention.
The 39 signatories included Jonathan Dayton, the youngest signer at 26, and Benjamin Franklin, the oldest at 81, who summed up the sentiments of those who did sign by saying:
> "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 accept this Constitution ... because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."
Other notable signatories include Roger Sherman, the only person to have signed all four founding documents: the Articles of Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution; and George Read, who was authorised by fellow delegate John Dickinson to sign on his behalf.
Of the 70 delegates chosen as representatives to the convention, only 55 attended the proceedings, and it is believed that there were never more than 46 in attendance at any one time. When it came to signing, 38 of the 41 delegates present became signatories. George Mason, Edmund Randolph, and Elbridge Gerry refused to sign, and several others left before the signing ceremony.
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Signing process: the document's adoption
The signing of the United States Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This marked the culmination of a four-month-long Constitutional Convention, during which delegates from 12 states (excluding Rhode Island) worked to create a new framework for the nation's government.
The process of drafting the Constitution began on July 24, 1787, when convention delegates selected a Committee of Detail to prepare a draft constitution reflecting the resolutions passed by the convention. This first draft, presented by the committee on September 8, 1787, included 23 articles and a preamble. Following further discussions and compromises, a Committee of Style was impanelled to distill a final draft constitution from the approved articles.
The final draft, presented to the convention on September 12, 1787, contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing statement. Despite some delegates' disappointment with the numerous compromises in the document, it was endorsed by 39 delegates, representing 12 states. The signing ceremony took place during the convention's final session, with 38 of the 41 delegates present becoming signatories. George Mason, Edmund Randolph, and Elbridge Gerry refused to sign, citing objections that would later become cornerstones for the Anti-Federalists. John Dickinson, who was unable to attend, authorised fellow delegate George Read to sign on his behalf, bringing the total number of signatories to 39.
The closing endorsement of the Constitution, conceived by Gouverneur Morris and presented by Benjamin Franklin, served to authenticate the document's validity. It included a statement pronouncing the document's adoption by the states present, a formulaic dating of its adoption, and the signatures of those endorsing it. Additionally, the convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note verifying four amendments made by hand and signed it to further authenticate the document's validity.
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Signing date: 17 September 1787
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, marking the end of the Constitutional Convention. The final draft of the Constitution was presented to the convention on September 12, 1787, and included seven articles, a preamble, and a closing statement. The concluding endorsement was intentionally ambiguous to secure the votes of dissenting delegates.
The document was signed by 39 delegates, although sources vary on the exact number of signatories, with some stating 38. Of the 70 delegates chosen as representatives, only 55 attended the proceedings, and no more than 46 were present at any one time. George Mason, Edmund Randolph, and Elbridge Gerry refused to sign, and John Dickinson was absent but authorised George Read to sign on his behalf.
The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin. Franklin summed up the sentiments of those who did sign, stating: "There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them." He accepted the Constitution because he "expected no better".
The signing of the Constitution was a significant moment in American history, and it is now the oldest written constitution in operation in the world. However, it is important to teach and learn about the Constitution critically, acknowledging the social conflict and race and class issues at the heart of the document.
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Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The US Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 17, 1787, at the conclusion of the four-month-long Constitutional Convention. The Constitutional Convention began in May 1787, with 55 delegates from 12 states meeting in Philadelphia to discuss improvements to the Articles of Confederation. The delegates, however, decided that a new system was preferable to repairing the current one and set about creating a new American government. They made decisions and compromises on issues such as how to elect a president, how to ensure fair representation in Congress, and how slaves would factor into the population.
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia was attended by many of the great minds of the day, including James Madison, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, and, for a while, Alexander Hamilton. The convention was presided over by George Washington, who was the first to sign the Constitution. The delegates who signed the Constitution represented 12 of the 13 original states, with Rhode Island being the only state not to send delegates.
The final draft of the Constitution was presented to the convention on September 12, 1787, and the delegates met one last time on September 17 to conclude their business and agree on how the Constitution would be sent to the Confederation Congress for ratification. Of the 41 men in the room, 39 signed the document, with George Read signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson. Three delegates, Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph, objected to the final version and refused to sign. Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest signer, and Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, was the youngest.
The signing of the US Constitution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a significant event in American history, marking the establishment of a new republican form of government and outlining the functions of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 39 signatures on the US Constitution.
The 39 signatories were delegates chosen as representatives to the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
Yes, Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, was the youngest to sign the Constitution, while Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest.
Yes, two of America's "founding fathers", Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, did not sign the Constitution as they were working as diplomats in France and Great Britain, respectively. George Mason, Edmund Randolph, and Elbridge Gerry also refused to sign.
