Isabella Carter
The US Constitution is not the same as it was in 1776. The US Constitution, which was signed on September 17, 1787, is a four-page document that establishes the framework of the Federal Government of the United States. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution consists of seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government, including the separation of powers into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The Constitution has been amended several times, with the first ten amendments known as the Bill of Rights, which defines citizens' and states' rights in relation to the government. The process of amending the Constitution involves two steps: proposal and ratification, with the final step requiring the approval of three-fourths of the states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Constitution | 1776 |
| Location of drafting | Philadelphia |
| Date of drafting completion | September 28, 1776 |
| Date of ratification | N/A |
| Purpose | To form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare |
| Powers | Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns, and Qualifications of its Members; to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers |
| Election rules | Powers continue for one year from the day of election |
| Voting rights | Men of property |
| Government | Based on the authority of the people rather than the British Crown |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed in 1787
The US Constitution was not signed in 1776. In fact, the only mention of a constitution in 1776 is that of Pennsylvania's, which was signed on September 28, 1776. This was the result of a convention called by the Continental Congress in response to an election in May of the same year that returned the old guard Assemblymen to office. The convention was chaired by Benjamin Franklin, and the principal authors of the new constitution were George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin, with contributions from George Clymer and Timothy Matlack, among others.
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia. The members of the convention met for the last time and Franklin wrote a speech that was delivered by his colleague James Wilson. The speech appealed for unity behind the Constitution, declaring:
> I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear that our councils are confounded [...] and that our States are on the point of separation, only to meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting one another's throats.
The delegates in the hall then formally signed the Constitution, and the convention adjourned at 4 pm. The final imprint of the six-page Constitution was printed by John Dunlap and David Claypoole, two blocks away on Market Street.
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The Pennsylvania Constitution was signed in 1776
The United States Constitution is not the same as the one from 1776. The US Constitution, which came into force in 1789, is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution globally. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, which was the first constitution of the nation.
However, the Pennsylvania Constitution was indeed signed in 1776, on September 28. It was the state's first constitution following its declaration of independence and has been described as one of the most democratic in America at the time. The Pennsylvania Constitution was drafted by Robert Whitehill, Timothy Matlack, Dr Thomas Young, George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin. Many of the men who took part in its creation were not members of Pennsylvania's government but rather an elected court composed of many non-landowners. The constitution also included a declaration of rights that coincided with the Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was tied to the ongoing political changes within the province in that year. The views of some political leaders differed from those of the Provincial Assembly, and of the Deputy Governor, John Penn. Extralegal committees were established that eventually displaced and took over the government. A convention assembled in Philadelphia on July 15, 1776, and completed its work on September 28, 1776. The convention arrogated to itself the interim political power of the state, and the constitution was signed by the president and members on that date. The constitution was then transmitted to the Committee of Safety, with instructions to deliver it to the general assembly of the state at their first meeting. The first meeting of the Pennsylvania General Assembly took place on November 28, 1776.
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 had a lasting impact, influencing many constitutions around the world, especially that of Vermont. It also served as a template for the Vermont Constitution of 1777, which led to the formation of the Vermont Republic. The Pennsylvania Constitution was replaced in 1790 by a new constitution.
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The Philadelphia Convention
The convention was originally planned to begin on May 14, but it had to be postponed due to the absence of many selected delegates. On May 25, a quorum of seven states was secured, and the convention began in the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. The delegates elected George Washington, a proponent of a stronger national government, to serve as President of the convention.
One of the first tasks of the convention was to select a presiding officer and adopt rules for the proceedings. The convention also agreed to keep its discussions and votes secret until its conclusion, with the windows of the meeting hall nailed shut to ensure secrecy. William Jackson was elected as secretary, but his records of the convention were brief and lacking in detail. As a result, James Madison's "Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787" are considered the most complete first-person record of the convention, along with notes kept by Yates.
The convention debated and ratified the Constitution of the United States, establishing a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. The new government was designed with a system of checks and balances, dividing federal authority between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. The legislative branch was intended to be strong, with a House of Representatives and a Senate, while the presidency was initially imagined to be relatively weak. However, the executive branch was given the authority to handle routine paperwork and address matters of lesser consequence.
After the necessary number of state ratifications, the Constitution came into effect in 1789 and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since. The Philadelphia Convention was thus a significant event in American history, creating a new frame of government and addressing the challenges faced by the young nation.
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The Continental Congress
The idea for the Continental Congress first arose in 1754 at the start of the French and Indian War, which was fought between Britain and France. Initially known as the Albany Congress, it met in Albany, New York, from June 18 to July 11, 1754, with representatives from seven of the thirteen colonies in attendance. Benjamin Franklin proposed that the colonies join in a confederation, but this idea was rejected.
The First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in 1774 in response to escalating tensions between the colonies and the British. The Congress was structured with an emphasis on the equality of participants, and to promote free debate. Delegates from each of the 13 colonies—except Georgia, which was fighting a Native American uprising—met to organize colonial resistance to the Intolerable Acts (or Coercive Acts) passed by the British Parliament. The First Congress met for about six weeks, mainly to try to repair the relationship between Britain and the colonies while asserting the rights of colonists. They passed the Continental Association, a unified trade embargo against Britain, and successfully built consensus for the establishment of a second congress.
The Second Continental Congress served as the provisional government of the U.S. during most of the Revolutionary War. It convened in 1775, soon after hostilities broke out in Massachusetts. The Second Congress sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George III, established the Continental Army, and elected George Washington as commander of the new army. In 1776, the Second Continental Congress took the momentous step of declaring America’s independence from Britain. In March 1781, the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union came into force, and the Continental Congress became the Congress of the Confederation.
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The Declaration of Independence
The United States Declaration of Independence, formally The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America, is the founding document of the United States. It was written by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, and was approved on July 4, 1776, by the Second Continental Congress, who convened at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. The Declaration was a formal explanation of why the Continental Congress voted to declare American independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. It justified the independence of the colonies, citing 27 colonial grievances against King George III and asserting certain natural and legal rights, including a right of revolution.
The Declaration was unanimously ratified on July 4, 1776, by the Second Continental Congress, whose delegates represented each of the Thirteen Colonies. In doing so, the delegates committed an act of high treason against the Crown, which was punishable by torture and death. Copies of the Declaration were sent throughout the colonies to be read publicly. The first public readings occurred simultaneously on July 8, 1776, at noon in Trenton, New Jersey; Easton, Pennsylvania; and Philadelphia.
The condition of the parchment Declaration of Independence is a sign of the place it has held in the hearts of many Americans. Years of public display have faded and worn this treasured document. It is now preserved at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
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Frequently asked questions
No. The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified in 1788.
In 1776, Pennsylvania adopted a new constitution, which was described as the most democratic in America at the time. It was the result of a popular revolt against the existing government.
In May 1776, the Second Continental Congress recommended that the colonies establish new governments based on the authority of the people, rather than the British Crown. This led to the Declaration of Independence, which was approved on July 4, 1776.
The US Constitution of 1787 established a federal government with legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It also guaranteed certain rights and freedoms for the people, such as freedom of speech and religion.
