Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution, written and signed in 1787, has been the supreme law of the land for over two centuries. It has served as a source of wisdom and inspiration, surviving civil wars, economic depressions, assassinations, and terrorist attacks. The Constitution was ratified in 1788, with amendments being proposed and added over the years to address the changing needs of the nation. The document establishes a system of checks and balances among the three branches of government: the Judicial, Executive, and Legislative. To honour this important milestone in American history, Constitution Day is celebrated annually on September 17th, marking the day the founding fathers signed the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the U.S. Constitution was written and signed | September 17, 1787 |
| Date the U.S. Constitution was ratified | June 21, 1788 |
| Date the Bill of Rights was ratified | End of 1791 |
| Number of years since the U.S. Constitution was written and signed | 237 years (as of 2024) |
| Number of years since the U.S. Constitution was ratified | 236 years (as of 2024) |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed in 1787
The US Constitution has had a significant impact on the country's history and continues to be a vital document in the present day. It created and defined the United States Congress, granting it powers such as the ability to collect taxes, coin money, raise an army, declare war, and establish a federal judicial system. The Constitution also addressed slavery, with delegates agreeing to protect the slave trade and allow states to count slaves as part of their populations for representation purposes.
Amendments have been made to the Constitution over the years, such as the Sixteenth Amendment in 1913, which removed constraints on Congress's power to tax income, and the Eighteenth Amendment in 1919, which prohibited the sale and consumption of alcohol nationwide. The Constitution has also played a role in shaping democratic institutions in the US, with some arguing that its difficulty to amend has contributed to the persistence of undemocratic practices.
Despite the challenges and changes faced by the nation, the US Constitution has endured, serving as a source of wisdom and inspiration for Americans. Its ratification and implementation have been commemorated through stamps and designated days, such as Constitution Week and Constitution Day, which aim to encourage Americans to learn more about this foundational document.
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It was ratified in 1788
The US Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. This made the Constitution the official framework for the government of the United States of America. The journey to ratification was long and arduous. The Articles of Confederation, which had previously guided the government, was tailored to a newly formed nation made of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries. However, it became clear to America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralized government.
Until the new Constitution was ratified, the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation. Alexander Hamilton of New York led the call for a constitutional convention to re-evaluate the nation's governing document. Representatives from all 13 states were invited to convene in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, to participate in the convention. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
Some states voiced opposition to the Constitution on the grounds that it did not provide protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. However, the terms of the Massachusetts Compromise, reached in February 1788, stipulated that amendments to that effect—what became the Bill of Rights—would be immediately proposed. The Constitution was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and, finally, New Hampshire. After ratification, Congress set dates for the first federal elections, which were held from Monday, December 15, 1788, to Saturday, January 10, 1789, and the new government began on March 4, 1789.
The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document. The Bill of Rights was not ratified until the end of the following year. The Constitution has since been amended several times, including the Sixteenth Amendment in 1913, which removed existing constraints that limited Congress's power to lay and collect taxes on income, and the Eighteenth Amendment in 1919, which prohibited the making, transporting, and selling of alcoholic beverages nationwide.
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Constitution Day is celebrated annually on September 17
The journey towards the ratification of the Constitution was long and arduous. Prior to the new Constitution, the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation, which was tailored to a newly formed nation of states acting as independent, sovereign countries. However, it became evident to America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralized government. Thus, New York's Alexander Hamilton led the call for a constitutional convention to re-evaluate the nation's governing document.
The Constitutional Convention was attended by delegates from all the original states except Rhode Island, many of whom had fought in the Revolutionary War and served in Congress. George Washington was named the presiding officer. The initial purpose of the Convention was to amend the Articles of Confederation, but the outcome was the proposal and creation of a new form of government. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
Constitution Day was first celebrated in 1940 as "I Am an American Day," following a resolution by Congress and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was observed on the third Sunday in May. In 1952, it was renamed "Constitution Day" and moved to September 17 to honour the original signing date. In 2004, Congress renamed it once more to "Constitution and Citizenship Day" to recognize new U.S. citizens, and it continues to be celebrated annually.
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The Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791
The Constitution of the United States was signed on September 17, 1787, and has since been amended 27 times. The Bill of Rights, comprising the first ten amendments to the Constitution, was ratified on December 15, 1791.
The Bill of Rights was drafted in response to concerns that the newly drafted Constitution would allow the central government to infringe on individual liberties. Opponents of the Constitution, known as Anti-Federalists, wanted power to remain with state and local governments. They demanded a "'bill of rights'" that would explicitly guarantee individual liberties and limit the power of the federal government. Several state conventions formally requested such amendments, while others ratified the Constitution with the understanding that amendments would be offered.
On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed 12 amendments to the state legislatures, which were approved by Congress and sent to the states for ratification in August 1789. Of these, 10 amendments were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures and became the Bill of Rights. The remaining two amendments were not ratified at the time, but one of them, concerning the compensation for senators and representatives, was ratified in 1992 as the 27th Amendment.
The Bill of Rights defined citizens' rights in relation to the newly established government under the Constitution. It includes protections for freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly, among others. The amendments in the Bill of Rights have served as a guide and protector of US citizens, ensuring that the federal government respects the rights and liberties of the people.
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The US Constitution is hard to amend
The US Constitution was written in 1787, which means it has been around for more than 230 years. It is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in the world. The document was drafted at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787, and it has been amended only 27 times since.
The US Constitution is notoriously difficult to amend, and this was intentional on the part of its framers. Chief Justice John Marshall wrote in the early 1800s that the Constitution was written "to endure for ages to come". The process of amending the Constitution is so challenging that it has been described as "effectively impossible in a partisan environment".
To amend the Constitution, a proposed amendment must be passed by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of state legislatures. Following this, the amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of state legislatures. This means that an idea must be extremely popular to gain enough support for an amendment, and even then, it may not be necessary to amend the Constitution to get it done.
The difficulty in amending the Constitution has been criticised by some, who argue that it has allowed significant democratic backsliding in the United States. Sanford Levinson wrote that the US Constitution is the "most difficult constitution in the world to amend" since the fall of Yugoslavia. However, others have defended the process, arguing that it ensures the Constitution remains an "enduring" document that can meet future challenges and crises.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2024, it has been 237 years since the Constitution was written.
The US Constitution was written in 1787.
The US Constitution was ratified in 1788.
The US Constitution was ratified by all states on May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document.
