Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the Constitution occurred at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, which began in May 1787. The Convention was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates ultimately drafted an entirely new form of government, establishing a federal government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Of the 42 men in the room, 39 delegates signed the document, with one delegate signing on behalf of an absent member, bringing the total to 40 signatures. The Constitution did not go into effect immediately after being signed; it needed to be ratified by nine of the 13 states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 17th of September, 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of Signatures | 39 |
| Number of Refusals to Sign | 3 |
| Age of Youngest Signer | 26 (Jonathan Dayton) |
| Age of Oldest Signer | 81 (Benjamin Franklin) |
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What You'll Learn
The signing of the United States Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the Constitution marked the culmination of a four-month-long Constitutional Convention that began in May 1787. The Convention, led by George Washington, brought together 74 delegates representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates). The delegates engaged in intense debates over the future of the United States, grappling with questions such as the balance of power between the central government and the states, the number of representatives each state should have in Congress, and how representatives should be elected.
The final document was signed by 39 delegates, with George Read signing for an absent John Dickinson, bringing the total to 40 signatures. The youngest signer was Jonathan Dayton, age 26, while Benjamin Franklin, age 81, was the oldest. Franklin, in his last great speech, made the final motion to sign the document, which was approved by 10 of the state delegations. The signing of the Constitution was preceded by a speech from Franklin, in which he acknowledged the imperfections of the document but argued for its acceptance:
> "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 doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views."
The signing of the Constitution was a significant moment in American history, laying the foundation for the nation's federal government and outlining the functions of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Of those who signed, virtually every one had taken part in the American Revolution; seven had signed the Declaration of Independence, and thirty had served on active military duty.
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The Constitutional Convention
The convention was initially intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, but the objective of its leaders was to create a new government. The delegates debated and ratified the Constitution of the United States, making the convention one of the most significant events in American history. The convention ultimately created a model of government that relied on a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The role of the executive was a highly debated topic during the convention. The delegates discussed whether executive power should be divided among three people or vested in a single chief executive, how a president would be elected, the length of a presidential term, and the number of allowable terms. They also debated issues such as what offenses should be impeachable and whether judges should be chosen by the legislature or the executive. Slavery was another contentious issue, with delegates debating the insertion of a fugitive slave clause, the abolition of the slave trade, and whether slaves should be counted in proportional representation.
The convention was held in the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. The building held significant importance as it was the same location where the Declaration of Independence had been signed 11 years earlier. The delegates to the convention, including many of the leading figures of the period, worked through a hot Philadelphia summer to create a constitution that would last into "remote futurity." The convention's work was approved by a majority of the states, and the Constitution came into effect in 1789, serving as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
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The role of Benjamin Franklin
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the United States Constitution marked the end of a four-month-long Constitutional Convention that began in May 1787. The convention featured many great minds of the day, including Benjamin Franklin, who, at 81, was the oldest signer of the Constitution.
Benjamin Franklin played a significant role in the signing of the United States Constitution. Despite his poor health, Franklin delivered a powerful and influential speech during the final day of the Constitutional Convention. Aware of the imperfections of the document, Franklin's address, read by James Wilson, strongly endorsed the Constitution. In his speech, Franklin acknowledged that there were aspects of the Constitution that he did not approve of but expressed his willingness to accept it, stating:
> "I confess that there are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise."
Franklin's speech concluded with a plea for all the delegates to sign the Constitution. He argued that the document was likely the best that could be achieved, and that a general government was necessary for the nation. Franklin's words carried weight, and he successfully persuaded the critics to support the Constitution. Following his speech, Franklin made the final motion to sign the document, which was approved by 10 of the state delegations.
In addition to his speech, Franklin also signed the Constitution, representing Pennsylvania. His signature, along with those of the other delegates, served as an endorsement of the document and authenticated its validity. Franklin's role in the signing of the Constitution was significant, as he helped to secure the unanimous consent of the states present and contributed to the creation of a new form of republican government in the United States.
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The delegates who refused to sign
The U.S. Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 41 or 42 men in the room, 38 or 39 signed the document, with one delegate, George Read, signing for an absent John Dickinson. Three delegates refused to sign the document because it lacked a bill of rights. These three dissenters—Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, and Edmund Randolph and George Mason of Virginia—spoke during the debate and explained why they wouldn't sign the final document.
Hugh Williamson from North Carolina also rejected the idea of signing the Constitution without a letter accompanying the document when it was sent to the Congress in New York. He believed that the letter "would be found satisfactory to some members who disliked the Constitution".
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Ratification by the states
The ratification process for the US Constitution began on September 17, 1787, the day it was signed and adopted by 39 delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The document would not be binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 existing states.
Five state conventions voted to approve the Constitution almost immediately, between December 1787 and January 1788. The first state to ratify was Delaware, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The vote in these states was either unanimous or lopsided. Four of the first five states to ratify were small states that stood to benefit from a strong national government that could restrain abuses by their larger neighbours. However, a closer look at who ratified the Constitution in these early states and how it was done indicates that the contest was much closer than might appear at first glance.
The ratification process was a long and arduous one. The next state to ratify was Massachusetts, in February 1788, following a bitterly divided month-long debate that ended with a close vote (187-168) in favour of the Constitution. This was a crucial victory for the Federalists, who formed a cross-class alliance between elite nationalists and urban working men. The vote in Massachusetts included an innovation with broad significance: John Hancock, who had initially opposed the Constitution, shifted his position and led the move toward ratification, satisfied that certain amendments protecting individual rights would be considered by the first new Congress that would meet should the Constitution become law. This compromise was adopted by every subsequent state convention to ratify (except Maryland).
New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution on June 21, 1788, at which point it became the official framework of the US government. The legitimacy of the new national system was not fully resolved, however, as powerful, populous, and highly divided Virginia and New York had yet to vote. Virginia became the tenth state to ratify, and was followed by New York, the eleventh.
The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
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Frequently asked questions
The U.S. Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787.
Of the 41 or 42 men in the room, 38 or 39 signed the document. George Read signed for an absent John Dickinson, bringing the total to 39. Three men refused to sign as the Constitution lacked a bill of rights.
The Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall.
The signing of the Constitution established the government of the United States. It lays out the framework of the nation's federal government and delineates how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) are to function.
