Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution, which was signed on September 17, 1787, outlines the framework for the nation's federal government and describes how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) should function. The signing of the Constitution occurred during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, with 39 delegates endorsing the document. The signatories included George Washington, who was the only president, besides James Madison, to sign the Constitution. The delegates who signed the Constitution represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, or state government. The signing of the Constitution was a significant event in the history of the United States, and it continues to be commemorated through stamps, coins, and other means.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of individuals selected to attend the Constitutional Convention | 70 or 74 |
| Number of individuals who attended the Constitutional Convention | 55 |
| Number of individuals who signed the Constitution | 39 |
| Age of the youngest signer | 26 (Jonathan Dayton) |
| Age of the oldest signer | 81 (Benjamin Franklin) |
| Date of signing | 17 September 1787 |
| Date of first anniversary stamp | 1937 |
| Date of 200th anniversary | 1987 |
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What You'll Learn
39 delegates signed the US Constitution
The US Constitution, which lays out the framework for the nation's federal government and delineates how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) are to function, was signed by 39 delegates. The Signing of the United States Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Of the 70 delegates chosen as representatives to the Constitutional Convention, only 55 attended the proceedings. It is believed that there were never more than 46 of them in attendance at any one time. Several attendees left before the signing ceremony, and three of the 42 who remained refused to sign. The names of 39 delegates are inscribed upon the proposed constitution. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin. Franklin was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
The 39 delegates who signed the Constitution represented 12 states, with Rhode Island being the only state that refused to send delegates. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note to verify four amendments made by hand to the final document and signed the note to authenticate its validity. The signers' names are, with the exception of Convention President George Washington, grouped by state, with the listing of states arranged geographically from north to south.
Benjamin 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. I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."
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74 individuals were selected to attend
The US Constitution, which was signed in 1787, lays out the framework for the nation's federal government and outlines how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) should function. The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia, the largest American city at the time, and the cultural, financial, intellectual, and social centre of the nation.
The original states, except Rhode Island, collectively appointed 70 individuals to the Constitutional Convention. However, 74 individuals were selected to attend the convention, with some states sending more than one delegate. Rhode Island, notably, did not send any delegates. A number of these individuals did not accept or were unable to attend, including Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and John Hancock. In total, 55 delegates attended the sessions, but only 39 signed the Constitution. The delegates ranged in age from Jonathan Dayton, the youngest at 26, to Benjamin Franklin, the oldest at 81, who had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair due to his infirmity.
The signing of the Constitution was preceded by an address from Benjamin Franklin, endorsing the document despite its imperfections. Franklin's address, read by James Wilson, was aimed at gaining the support of critics and fostering a sense of common accord. Following this, the Constitution was endorsed by the delegates as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present. The signers subscribed their names as witnesses to the proceedings of the convention, rather than on behalf of particular states as they had done in the Articles of Confederation. The names of the 39 delegates who signed the Constitution are inscribed on the document, with George Washington, as president of the Convention, signing first.
The process of signing the Constitution was carefully documented, with the convention's secretary, William Jackson, playing a crucial role. Jackson added a note to verify four amendments made by hand to the final document and signed to authenticate its validity. This ensured that the document was properly verified and validated before it was officially adopted and implemented.
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The signing occurred on September 17, 1787
The signing of the United States Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This day is also known as Constitution Day. The signing occurred four months after the Constitutional Convention first met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had been creating a weak central government. The final draft of the Constitution was presented to the convention on September 12, five days before the signing.
The Constitution was signed by 39 of the 41 delegates present at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention. The delegates represented 12 states, with Rhode Island declining to send delegates. The signing included a declaration that the delegates' work had been completed and that those who signed agreed with the final document. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note to verify four amendments made by hand to the final document, and signed the note to authenticate its validity.
The Constitution specified that it needed to be ratified by nine of the 13 states to become binding. Beginning on December 7, five states—Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut—ratified it in quick succession. However, other states, especially Massachusetts, opposed the document, as it failed to reserve undelegated powers to the states and lacked the constitutional protection of basic political rights. In February 1788, a compromise was reached, and Massachusetts, along with Maryland and South Carolina, agreed to ratify the document with the assurance that amendments would be proposed immediately.
On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the document, and it was subsequently agreed that the government under the U.S. Constitution would begin on March 4, 1789. The first Congress of the United States adopted 12 amendments to the Constitution—the Bill of Rights—on September 25, 1789, and sent them to the states for ratification.
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The youngest signer was 26, the oldest 81
The U.S. Constitution, written and signed in 1787, outlines the framework for the nation's federal government and describes how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) should function. The signing of the United States Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, when 39 delegates endorsed the constitution. However, it wasn't until 1788 that it was ratified by the necessary nine of thirteen states to become binding.
The ages of the 39 signers of the U.S. Constitution varied widely, with the youngest signer being 26 years old and the oldest being 81. Jonathan Dayton, the youngest signer at 26, endorsed Midshipman Owen Smith to serve under Commodore Barry in 1799, according to a letter. Dayton was also a representative from a large southern state, Georgia, and focused on the right to own slaves and a protective federal government. Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer at 81, 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 convention, delivering an address endorsing the Constitution and proposing that it be endorsed by the delegates as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present.
The wide age range of the signers reflects the diverse representation of 18th-century American leadership, with individuals having experience in local, colonial, and state governments. The signers also had diverse backgrounds, with some having served in the American Revolution, signed the Declaration of Independence, or served on active military duty.
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The document was signed in Philadelphia
The United States Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall. The Federal Convention convened in the State House (later renamed Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. The goal was to amend the existing Articles, but it became clear by mid-June that the convention would instead draft an entirely new frame of government.
The Constitutional Convention was attended by 55 delegates, representing 12 of the 13 states (all except Rhode Island, which refused to send delegates). Of these 55 attendees, 39 signed the Constitution. The signatories included John Dickinson of Delaware, who was absent but authorised George Read to sign for him, and the convention's secretary, William Jackson, who added a note to verify four amendments made by hand and signed to authenticate the document's validity.
The 39 delegates who signed the Constitution ranged in age from Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, to Benjamin Franklin, aged 81. 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. I accept this Constitution ... because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."
The signing of the United States Constitution is an important event in the nation's history, establishing the government of the United States and laying out the framework for the nation's federal government and the function of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
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Frequently asked questions
39 people signed the US Constitution.
3 people refused to sign the US Constitution.
74 individuals were selected to attend the Constitutional Convention.
55 people attended the Constitutional Convention.
The age range of the people who signed the US Constitution was 26 to 81 years old.
