Malcolm Rivera
The US Constitution, along with the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, are known collectively as the Charters of Freedom. These documents are considered fundamental to the founding and philosophy of the United States. The US Constitution is not a fake document in the National Archives. It was signed on September 17, 1787, and has been housed in the National Archives since 1952. The document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum is a transcription of the original Constitution, inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | The US National Archives, Washington, DC |
| Display | The Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom |
| Date of transfer | 13 December 1952 |
| Date of display | 28 February 1924 |
| Previous location | Library of Congress |
| Date of transfer to previous location | 29 September 1921 |
| Date of signing | 17 September 1787 |
| Author | Jacob Shallus |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Signatories | B Franklin Thomas Mifflin, Robt. Morris, Geo. Clymer, Thos. FitzSimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, Gouv Morris |
| Transcription | Available on the National Archives website |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution is not fake
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and it acted as a merger, uniting a group of states with different interests, laws, and cultures. It established the framework of the Federal Government of the United States, vesting the power of the union in the people. The Constitution also defined the roles of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the government, outlining the rights and responsibilities of citizens and the states in relation to the government.
The creation of the US Constitution involved a lengthy process of debate and negotiation. The Constitutional Convention, led by General George Washington, took place in Philadelphia in 1787. The convention debated various plans and proposals, ultimately moving towards the creation of a new government. The nationalists, led by Madison, believed that the constitution should be ratified by the people rather than by Congress or state legislatures.
The US Constitution has undergone amendments and interpretations over time, but its core principles remain intact. The document is preserved and protected by the National Archives, ensuring its authenticity and integrity for future generations. The National Archives building in Washington, DC, became the home of the Charters of Freedom in 1952, and it has since been one of the most popular places to visit in the city.
In conclusion, the US Constitution is not fake. It is a genuine and authentic document that has shaped the course of American history and continues to serve as the foundation of the country's government and legal system. The National Archives hold and display the original Constitution, providing access and insight into the nation's founding documents for researchers and visitors alike.
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The history of the US Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, after months of conflicting views, passionate debates, and clashing ideas. The delegates who founded the Constitution were appointed by the state legislatures to represent each state's interests. They first assembled in the Philadelphia statehouse as a quorum of 55 emissaries on May 25, 1787. The original 13 states included Rhode Island, which declined to participate.
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was convened to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which served as the nation's first constitution. The delegates realized they shared two common goals: to establish a republican form of government and a new constitutional form of government. The convention debated Paterson's plan, ultimately voting for its rejection, and moved toward the creation of a new government. The nationalists, led by Madison, wanted any new constitution to be ratified by the people rather than by Congress or state legislatures.
The Constitution's founding fathers claimed that it established a completely new form of government, requiring approval by two-thirds of the states. The delegates from the state conventions, chosen by voters in each state, approved the new constitution. The legislative branch would be bicameral, with the number of delegates in the House of Representatives based on population. To ensure smaller states' support, the Constitution stated that all states would have equal representation in the Senate, with two senators each.
The Constitution also provided for a strong, independent executive branch, led by a President and Vice President. The judicial branch, including the Supreme Court, had limited authority, with the legislative branch controlling all other courts. The Constitution was later transferred to the Library of Congress for preservation and exhibition in 1921.
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The US Constitution's journey to the National Archives
The US Constitution, along with the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, are collectively referred to as the Charters of Freedom. These documents have been housed in the National Archives since 1952, but their journey to this final resting place has been a long and winding one.
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and its fate can be contrasted with that of the Declaration of Independence, which suffered damage as it was carried from town to town during the Revolutionary War. The Declaration was also exposed to prolonged damaging sunlight as it hung on the walls of various government buildings in Washington.
The US Constitution, along with the Declaration of Independence, was displayed at the Centennial Exhibition in 1876 in Philadelphia. After the exhibition, the documents were returned to the State, War, and Navy Building in Washington, DC (now the Eisenhower Executive Office Building). They were displayed in a cabinet within the departmental library until 1894 when they were removed due to fading. The documents remained in storage until 1920 when efforts were made to advocate for their preservation and exhibition.
In 1921, President Warren Harding transferred the Constitution and the Declaration to the Library of Congress for preservation and exhibition. They were officially put on display in 1924. In 1933, President Herbert Hoover announced that the documents would be exhibited at the National Archives building, which was designed as a shrine to American democracy.
Finally, in 1952, the Librarian of Congress agreed that the Charters of Freedom should be moved to the National Archives, and President Truman approved the transfer. The documents travelled to the Archives in a procession of tanks and armoured vehicles and were placed in a custom-built, 50-ton, steel and concrete, bomb-and fire-proof safe. Today, the US Constitution is on permanent display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum, where visitors can view the original document and read a transcription that reflects the original spelling and punctuation.
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The US Constitution's display at the National Archives
The US Constitution is one of the Charters of Freedom, along with the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. These documents were transferred to the National Archives in 1952, where they are now on permanent display. The US Constitution is a four-page document, transcribed on parchment by Jacob Shallus. The document is displayed in the Rotunda of the National Archives Museum, along with murals by artist Barry Faulkner that depict the historical events surrounding the creation of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
The road to the creation of the US Constitution began with the Philadelphia Convention on May 25, 1787. General George Washington was unanimously elected president of the convention. The convention debated various plans and resolutions, ultimately leading to the creation of a new government. The nationalists, led by Madison, believed that the constitution should be ratified by the people and not by Congress or state legislatures. On September 17, 1787, the US Constitution was signed, uniting a group of states with different interests, laws, and cultures into a single union.
Prior to its move to the National Archives, the US Constitution had a long history of travel and display. After the formation of the new government under the Constitution, the document was displayed in various government buildings in Washington, exposing it to damaging sunlight. In 1876, the Constitution was displayed at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia and was subsequently returned to Washington, DC, where it was displayed in a cabinet within the departmental library until 1894. The document remained in storage until 1920, when efforts began to preserve and exhibit it once again.
In 1921, President Warren Harding issued an executive order transferring the Constitution to the Library of Congress for preservation and exhibition. The document was officially put on display at a ceremony in the library in 1924. In 1933, President Herbert Hoover announced that the Constitution would be exhibited at the National Archives building, and plans were made to create a safe and secure environment for the documents. The National Archives now holds all the key documents of the nation's founding, and the building has become one of the most popular places to visit in Washington, DC.
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The US Constitution's preservation at the National Archives
The US Constitution, along with the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, are collectively referred to as the Charters of Freedom. These documents were initially under the control of the State Department. They were displayed at the Centennial Exhibition in 1876 in Philadelphia and were subsequently returned to the State, War, and Navy Building in Washington, DC. The documents were displayed in a cabinet within the departmental library until 1894, after which they were removed due to fading and placed in storage.
In 1920, the Secretary of State formed a committee to advocate for the preservation and exhibition of these documents. The committee recommended transferring them to the Library of Congress. On September 29, 1921, President Warren Harding issued an executive order to transfer the Constitution and the Declaration to the Library of Congress for preservation and exhibition.
In 1930, designers for the National Archives added an exhibition hall to their plans, intending to create a space to exhibit the Charters of Freedom. In 1933, President Herbert Hoover announced that the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution would be exhibited at the National Archives building. The building's architect, John Russell Pope, commissioned artist Barry Faulkner to paint two large murals above the exhibit cases within the archives' rotunda, emphasizing the intention to house and display the Charters of Freedom.
In 1952, the Librarian of Congress agreed that the Charters of Freedom should be moved to the National Archives, citing concerns about fire and bomb safety and the lack of temperature controls at the Library of Congress, which caused damage to the parchments. The Charters of Freedom were transferred to the National Archives in a procession of tanks and an armored personnel carrier. Upon arrival, they were placed in a custom-built, 50-ton, steel and concrete, bomb-and fire-proof safe.
Today, all four pages of the original US Constitution are on permanent display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum. The document was inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment, and the spelling and punctuation reflect the original. Visitors to the National Archives can observe the early treatment and the resulting damage to the Declaration of Independence, which was subjected to prolonged damaging sunlight and early calligraphy reproductions.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Constitution is on display at the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.
Yes, the document on display is the original Constitution, which was inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment.
The Constitution arrived at the National Archives on December 13, 1952, and was placed in a custom-built, steel and concrete, bomb-and fire-proof safe.
The current condition of the Constitution is unknown, however, the Declaration of Independence, which was also stored at the National Archives, was exposed to prolonged damaging sunlight and early calligraphy attempts, which took a disastrous toll on the document.
