Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates, including George Washington, who signed first. The signing of the Constitution occurred during a convention in Philadelphia, which was attended by 55 delegates, though 13 dropped out. The Constitution was first ratified by Delaware on December 7, 1787, and has since been amended 27 times.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | 17th September 1787 |
| Location | Philadelphia, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall) |
| Number of signatures | 39 |
| Number of delegates chosen | 70 or 74 |
| Number of delegates who attended | 55 |
| Number of delegates who refused to sign | 3 |
| Youngest signer | Jonathan Dayton, age 26 |
| Oldest signer | Benjamin Franklin, age 81 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed by 39 delegates
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates, out of 55 who attended the convention, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the US Constitution occurred when 39 delegates endorsed the constitution created during the four-month-long convention. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note to verify four handwritten amendments to the final document and signed the note to authenticate its validity. The US Constitution, the first permanent constitution, was handwritten on five pages of parchment by Jacob Shallus. It has been amended 27 times since it became operational in 1789.
The delegates who signed the Constitution represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, and state governments. They represented 12 of the 13 states, with Rhode Island being the only state that refused to send delegates. Of the 74 delegates chosen, 55 attended the convention. The delegates ranged in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
The signing of the US Constitution was the culmination of a process that began with the convening of the Federal Convention of 1787. The majority of the delegates to Congress agreed that the Articles of Confederation, which established the first national government, needed significant revisions. The Articles' primary weakness was their failure to empower the central government to carry out essential functions, such as raising revenue, conducting diplomatic relations, and effectively managing western territories.
The delegates debated competing proposals from May to July 1787, and a Grand Committee produced a report known as the Great Compromise, which resolved many contentious issues. The final document, the US Constitution, expanded the power of the central government while protecting the prerogatives of the states. While many delegates were disappointed by the numerous compromises contained in the final document, Benjamin Franklin, who accepted the Constitution despite his reservations, summed up the sentiments of those who signed it, 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."
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George Washington signed first
The U.S. Constitution, which was signed on September 17, 1787, outlines the framework of the nation's federal government and explains how its three branches (the legislative, executive, and judicial) should function. Of the 74 delegates chosen, 55 attended and 39 signed the document. George Washington, as president of the Convention, signed first.
George Washington's role in the founding of the American Republic was indispensable. He spent the spring and summer of 1787 guiding and mediating the intense and lengthy debates between 55 state delegates gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who were fiercely debating the future of the United States. Washington's careful mediation helped facilitate an atmosphere that allowed for the compromises necessary to create a new government. He remained relatively quiet, allowing the delegates to debate the foundation of the Constitution themselves, and only participated to keep order and provide a deciding vote on a variety of proposals.
Washington's presence was deemed essential, and he was elected president of the Convention on May 14, 1787. He was one of the few matters the delegates agreed on, as they consisted of passionate Federalists and Antifederalists. While Federalists used Washington's image to support the ratification of the Constitution, the public wanted to know his thoughts on the proceedings. Washington, true to form, said or wrote little publicly. However, his letter of September 17, 1787, as president of the Convention to the president of Congress, was attached to the Constitution whenever it was printed. In the letter, he expressed his desire to see the Constitution adopted, acknowledging its imperfections but praising the amendment provision that provided a method to correct problems that might arise after its implementation.
After four months of fierce debate, the delegates finally reached an agreement, and Washington signed the Constitution first, followed by the other delegates, grouped by states from north to south.
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Benjamin Franklin, age 81, was the oldest signer
The United States Constitution, which lays out the framework for the nation's federal government and outlines how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) are to function, was signed by 39 delegates. Benjamin Franklin, at 81 years old, was the oldest of the signers.
Franklin, a Founding Father, was a polymath: a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. He was also a notorious womanizer and known for his raunchy humour. Born in 1706, he was the fifteenth child of Josiah Franklin, a tallow chandler, soaper, and candlemaker, and his second wife, Abiah.
On the final day of the Constitutional Convention, Franklin delivered an address endorsing the Constitution, despite its perceived imperfections. He hoped to gain the support of critics and create a sense of common accord. Franklin then proposed that the Constitution be endorsed by the delegates as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present. This proposal was agreed to, and the signers subscribed their names as witnesses to the Convention's actions.
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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The signing occurred on September 17, 1787
The signing of the United States Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, marking a pivotal moment in the nation's history. The Constitution laid out a new framework for the nation's federal government, delineating the functions of its three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. This signing ceremony culminated a months-long process that began with the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787.
The Constitutional Convention was convened with the initial purpose of amending the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates ultimately proposed and created a new form of government, drafting a constitution that reflected this. Of the 74 delegates chosen, 55 attended, and 39 signed the document. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, while Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest.
The signing ceremony itself held symbolic significance. George Washington, as president of the Convention, signed first. The remaining delegates then added their signatures, grouped by states in a geographical progression from north to south. This arrangement symbolised the unity and consensus of the states present, despite individual differences and varying levels of approval for the document.
The signing of the Constitution was just the beginning of the process of establishing a new government. The document needed to be ratified by the states, and the first state to do so was Delaware on December 7, 1787. The Constitution officially came into effect in 1789, marking the beginning of a new era in American governance. Since then, it has been amended 27 times to expand individual civil rights protections and address issues related to federal authority and government processes.
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The signing formula was devised to ensure unanimous consent
The signing of the United States Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 74 delegates chosen, 55 attended and 39 signed the document. The signing formula was devised to ensure unanimous consent, as it was feared that many delegates would refuse to give their individual assent to the Constitution. The formula, "Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present," was proposed by Benjamin Franklin, who strongly endorsed the Constitution despite its imperfections. This formula was included in the closing protocol of the Constitution, along with a declaration that the delegates' work had been completed and that those who signed it subscribed to the final document.
The signing formula was designed to create a sense of common accord and gain the support of critics. The signers subscribed their names as witnesses to the convention's actions, rather than on behalf of particular states. This formulaic language, conceived by Gouverneur Morris and presented by Franklin, was intentionally ambiguous to win over dissenting delegates. The closing endorsement served an essential authentication function, documenting the Constitution's validity and providing a record of who signed, when, and where.
The delegates' signatures were grouped by states, arranged geographically from north to south. George Washington, as president of the Convention, signed first, followed by the other delegates. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, also signed the document to authenticate corrections and verify four amendments made by hand.
The unanimous consent formula was crucial in presenting a united front and ensuring the Constitution's adoption by the states present. It is an example of how unanimous consent agreements can bring order and expedite the legislative process by avoiding the need for formal votes. In the case of the U.S. Constitution, this formulaic language contributed to the document's historical significance and the establishment of the nation's federal government.
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Frequently asked questions
The U.S. Constitution was signed once, on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates.
The signatories included George Washington, John Dickinson (by proxy), and Benjamin Franklin. The remaining signatories were delegates, grouped by states from north to south.
The signing served to authenticate the validity of the Constitution. It also documented who signed, when, and where.
No, the Constitution did not receive everyone's approval. Several delegates left before the signing ceremony, and three of those who remained refused to sign.
