Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution is one of the most important documents in American history. It was handwritten by Jacob Shallus, an Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and is written in a style of penmanship known as cursive or Roundhand. Cursive is a style of writing in which letters are joined in a flowing manner, generally to increase writing speed. The use of cursive in important historical documents such as the US Constitution has led to debates over whether it is still necessary to teach this style of writing in schools.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Writer | James Madison |
| Scribe | Jacob Shallus |
| Material written on | Four pieces of animal skin |
| Ink | Iron gall ink |
| Writing instrument | Likely a goose quill |
| Style | Roundhand |
| Location | Upper level of the National Archives in the Rotunda |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution was written in a style of penmanship known as Roundhand or Copperplate
- Cursive is a style of writing where letters are joined in a flowing manner, making it faster to write than block letters
- The US Constitution was handwritten by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly
- James Madison is known as the writer of the US Constitution, but he did not physically write it out
- Cursive is also known as joined-up writing and can be further divided into looped, italic, or connected styles
The US Constitution was written in a style of penmanship known as Roundhand or Copperplate
The US Constitution was penned by Jacob Shallus, the Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, in 1787. Shallus used a quill and iron gall ink to write on four pieces of animal skin. This style of penmanship is known as Roundhand or Copperplate.
Roundhand is a style of cursive writing that predates the Spencerian and Palmer styles. It is characterised by quintessential line variance, which would be difficult to achieve with most contemporary non-flexible writing instruments. The quill has certain idiosyncrasies that are evident in the writing it produces.
John Jenkins' 1813 book, 'The Art of Writing', is a great resource for learning about early-American Roundhand. It was also recommended by John Adams and shows the standard forms and unique aesthetic qualities of this style of penmanship.
Copperplate is a term used, especially in the US, to refer to a variant of English Roundhand. In the past, it was seen as a derogatory term for Roundhand.
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Cursive is a style of writing where letters are joined in a flowing manner, making it faster to write than block letters
Cursive is a style of writing where letters are joined in a flowing manner, making it faster to write than print (or block) letters. The United States Constitution was written in a form of cursive known as "Roundhand". It was penned by Jacob Shallus, the Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, using a quill and iron gall ink on four pieces of animal skin. Shallus' handwriting can still be seen on the document, which is kept on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.
Roundhand is a style of cursive that predates the Spencerian and Palmer styles. It is characterised by its quintessential line variance, which would be difficult to achieve with most contemporary non-flexible writing instruments. The quill used by Shallus would have had certain idiosyncrasies that are evident in the writing it produced.
While James Madison is often credited as the writer of the Constitution, his role was primarily that of a note-taker and drafter. Madison played a significant part in the creation of the document, but the physical act of writing out the clauses was done by Shallus. This choice was likely made to ensure the document was well-written and legible, with no room for misreading or mistakes.
The process of creating the Constitution involved a combination of important delegates, with Madison playing a key role in shaping the final document. However, the actual handwriting on the Constitution belongs to Shallus, whose skill and expertise in cursive writing contributed to the historical significance of the document.
The Constitution of the United States is one of the Charters of Freedom, along with the subsequent Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. These documents are considered some of the most important in American history, as they allowed for the creation of the United States and the establishment of the freedoms of its people. The Constitution, with its flowing cursive script, stands as a testament to the nation's founding principles and the dedication of those who crafted it.
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The US Constitution was handwritten by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with one delegate, George Reed, signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The delegates were tasked with revising the existing government but ultimately ended up creating a new one. The Constitution created a powerful central government, with the federal government divided into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress; the executive, consisting of the president and subordinate officers; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Articles of Confederation gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, and couldn't print money. The Constitution, on the other hand, provided a framework for a strong central government, with checks and balances in place to ensure stability and order.
The process of amending the Constitution is a two-step one. First, a proposal for an amendment must be adopted by either a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives or by a national convention requested by two-thirds of the state legislatures. Once the proposal is passed, Congress decides on the ratification method, which can be either through the state legislatures or state ratifying conventions. Finally, three-fourths of the states (currently 38 out of 50) must approve the proposed amendment for it to become an operative part of the Constitution.
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James Madison is known as the writer of the US Constitution, but he did not physically write it out
James Madison is known as the Father of the Constitution, and he played a pivotal role in drafting and promoting the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. He was dissatisfied with the weak national government established by the Articles of Confederation, so he helped organize the Constitutional Convention, which produced a new constitution designed to strengthen the republican government against democratic assembly. Madison's Virginia Plan was the basis for the convention's discussions, and he was one of the leaders in the movement to ratify the Constitution. He also joined Alexander Hamilton and John Jay in writing The Federalist Papers, a series of pro-ratification essays that are still considered significant in American political science.
However, Madison did not physically write out the Constitution. The United States Constitution was engrossed (a term for a final, official copy of a legal document) by Jacob Shallus, the Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Shallus wrote the Constitution on four pieces of animal skin using iron gall ink and a quill, likely a goose quill. The document is written in a style called "Roundhand," which is known for its quintessential line variance.
Madison did, however, write extensively about the road to the Constitution, particularly during his time at Montpelier. He reflected on his work on George Mason's draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which was the first step towards independence and the Constitution. Madison also had an amended copy of the Virginia Declaration of Rights (dated June 8, 1776) in his papers. In addition, Madison wrote about his long hours of work on the Virginia Constitution in 1776 and his service as a Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress from 1780 to 1783 and again from 1787 to 1788.
Madison also kept a journal, which he had his wife's brother, John C. Payne, recopy and incorporate many of his emendations and corrections. Madison was concerned that his political enemies would use his journal against him, and he feared that its incompleteness and errors would distort a strict-constructionist approach to the Constitution. In the 1820s and 1830s, Madison struggled to draft a preamble and sketch for a preface to his planned publication of his "Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787."
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Cursive is also known as joined-up writing and can be further divided into looped, italic, or connected styles
Cursive is a style of handwriting where the letters are connected, and it has been used for centuries to write important documents like the US Constitution. The Constitution was handwritten by Jacob Shallus, the Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and it is written in a specific style of cursive known as "Roundhand." This style of handwriting is known for its distinctive line variance, which would be difficult to achieve with most modern writing instruments.
Cursive writing, also known as joined-up writing, can be further divided into several styles, including looped, italic, or connected scripts. The choice of style often depends on personal preference, the desired aesthetic, and the flexibility of the writing instrument. Looped cursive features letters with loops and flourishes, while italic cursive is characterized by more angular and straight lines. Connected cursive, as the name suggests, focuses on connecting letters smoothly.
The US Constitution, being an important historical document, was likely written with a careful consideration of style and legibility. The use of a quill, likely made from goose, contributed to the unique characteristics of the Roundhand script. The flexibility of the quill allowed for the creation of the quintessential line variance associated with this style of cursive.
While the physical writing was done by Shallus, the words and ideas in the Constitution were the result of collaboration among several key figures, including James Madison and Gouverneur Morris. Madison, in particular, played a significant role as a note-taker, drafter, and influential figure in the committee. The final document, however, was carefully penned by Shallus to ensure legibility and precision.
Today, the original handwritten Constitution is preserved and available for viewing at the National Archives in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom. Visitors can admire not only the content but also the elegant cursive handwriting that has stood the test of time.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the US Constitution was written in a style of cursive known as "Roundhand" or "English round-hand".
The US Constitution was handwritten by Jacob Shallus, an Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The text was drafted by James Madison, one of the key note-takers, and Gouverneur Morris.
The US Constitution was written on four pieces of animal skin using iron gall ink and a quill, likely a goose quill.
Cursive, or joined-up writing, is a style of penmanship in which characters are written in a flowing manner, generally to increase writing speed.
