Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, is the supreme law of the land and has guided the government for over 235 years. The signing of the Constitution occurred when 39 of 55 delegates endorsed the document, establishing the government of the United States. The Constitution was ratified by the states, with Delaware being the first state to do so on December 7, 1787, and Rhode Island being the last on May 29, 1790. The Bill of Rights, consisting of ten amendments, was ratified on December 15, 1791. The US Constitution has inspired the world and put governance in the hands of the people, allowing them to select their form of government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | 17th of September, 1787 |
| Number of delegates who signed | 39 out of 41 or 55 |
| Location | Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, Philadelphia |
| Year of the last celebration | 2004 |
| Number of years since signing | 235 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The Constitution was signed by 38 of the 41 delegates present, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The document was crafted to address the needs of the 13 states, which at the time had a population of approximately four million people. The delegates represented a wide range of interests and views, and they worked to create compromises that would be acceptable to all.
The signing of the Constitution was a significant achievement, as it established the basic framework of the federal government and set the terms for its ratification. The founders bypassed the state legislatures and called for special ratifying conventions in each state, recognising that state legislators might be reluctant to cede power to a national government. Ratification by 9 of the 13 states was required to enact the new government.
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware, on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The process of ratification faced opposition from Anti-Federalists, who argued that the Constitution lacked a bill of rights to ensure individual liberties. However, the Massachusetts Compromise of February 1788 addressed these concerns, and the Constitution was subsequently ratified by the remaining states. The first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, and the new government under the Constitution began on March 4, 1789.
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39 of 55 delegates signed the document
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, marking the end of the Constitutional Convention that began on May 25, 1787. The signing took place in the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, in Philadelphia.
The Constitutional Convention was convened to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which had established the first national government. However, the Articles failed to empower the central government effectively, leading to calls for revisions. The convention's initial purpose was to amend the Articles, but the delegates ultimately proposed and created a new form of government with a stronger central government and protected state prerogatives.
Out of the 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention, only 39 signed the Constitution. 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 the sessions in a sedan chair. The signing of the Constitution by these 39 delegates marked a significant step towards establishing a new governing framework for the newly formed nation.
The process of establishing the new government involved ratification by the states. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by several other states. However, Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates to the Constitutional Convention, was the last state to approve the document on May 29, 1790. The Constitution was not fully ratified until all states had approved it, and the Bill of Rights was ratified the following year.
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It was ratified by states in 1788
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. However, it did not go into effect immediately. It had to be ratified by the states. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787. This was followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
Several states voiced opposition to the Constitution, arguing that it did not adequately protect essential rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. To address these concerns, the Massachusetts Compromise was reached in February 1788. It stipulated that amendments—what became the Bill of Rights—would be proposed immediately. Subsequently, the Constitution was ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and, most importantly, New Hampshire on June 21, 1788. New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, and with that, the Confederation Congress established March 4, 1789, as the date for the new government under the Constitution to begin.
The US Constitution has been an inspiration and a guiding force for the government of the United States for 235 years. It has safeguarded the rights of the states and the American people and ensured the nation's evolution with the times. The Constitution is the fundamental framework of America's system of government, separating powers into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
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The first state to ratify was Delaware
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, marking the end of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The signing of the document was the culmination of a process that began with the convention in May of the same year, which saw delegates from all 13 states meet to amend the Articles of Confederation. However, the convention resulted in the proposal and creation of a new form of government, with the new constitution replacing the Articles of Confederation.
The signing of the Constitution was not the end of the story, as it still needed to be ratified by the states. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware, on December 7, 1787, less than four months after the signing. All 30 delegates to the Delaware Constitutional Convention unanimously approved the document, making Delaware the first state of the modern United States.
Delaware's early and unanimous ratification of the Constitution was significant, as it helped set the process in motion for the remaining states. Delaware's support for the Constitution was not a given, as it was a small state with a relatively small delegation. However, its delegates contributed to the Constitutional Convention, including proposing a solution to the issue of small versus large-state representation.
Following Delaware's lead, the Constitution was subsequently ratified by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and, finally, New Hampshire on June 21, 1788, making federal democracy the law of the land. The government under the new Constitution took effect on March 4, 1789, with George Washington elected as the first President and John Adams as Vice President.
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It was signed in Philadelphia
The U.S. Constitution was signed 235 years ago, on September 17, 1787. This date is now celebrated as Constitution Day, established by law in 2004. The signing took place in Philadelphia, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. This was also the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The Federal Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention, convened in the State House on May 14, 1787, with the initial purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation. However, it soon became clear that the delegates intended to draft an entirely new form of government. The convention was attended by representatives from all 13 states, and through the summer of 1787, delegates debated and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution in closed sessions.
The final document, a four-page charter of government, was signed by 39 of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention. Notably, Thomas Jefferson's ideas were included in the final document, but he did not sign it as he was on a diplomatic mission in Europe. The signing of the Constitution was the culmination of months of discussion and debate, and it established the government of the United States.
Philadelphia played a significant role in the early history of the United States, as the site of important gatherings and debates that shaped the nation's future. The Constitutional Convention was one of several pivotal events that took place in this city, which was a centre of political activity during the country's formative years.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was signed 235 years ago, on September 17, 1787.
No, the US Constitution was not immediately effective after it was signed. It needed to be ratified by the states. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787.
The US Constitution was ratified on May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island, the final state, approved the document.
The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791.
