Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the Constitution occurred during the Constitutional Convention, which took place between May and September of 1787. The Convention addressed the issues of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation and aimed to establish a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting foreign relations. The Constitution was created during a four-month-long convention, with 39 delegates representing 12 states endorsing the document. The final draft, presented to the convention on September 12, contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. The Constitution came into effect in 1789 and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of delegates | 74 |
| Number of attendees | 55 |
| Number of signatories | 39 |
| Number of states represented | 12 |
| State not represented | Rhode Island |
| Age of youngest signer | 26 (Jonathan Dayton) |
| Age of oldest signer | 81 (Benjamin Franklin) |
| Number of states needed for ratification | 9 |
| States that approved the Constitution by January 9, 1788 | Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut |
| Date the Constitution came into effect | 1789 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The final draft of the Constitution was presented to the convention on September 12, 1787, and contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. The document was signed by 39 delegates, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates). The signatures were accompanied by a brief declaration stating that the delegates' work had been successfully completed and that those who signed agreed with the final document.
The signing of the US Constitution was a significant event in the country's history, as it laid out the framework for the nation's federal government and delineated how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) would function. The Constitution also included an introductory paragraph, known as the Preamble, which outlined the purposes of the new government. The opening words, "We the People", represented a new idea: that the people, not the states, were the source of the government's legitimacy.
The process of creating and signing the Constitution was not without its challenges. Several delegates left before the signing ceremony, and three of those who remained refused to sign. However, the advocates of the Constitution were able to gain unanimous support from all twelve states represented in the convention, with the exception of Rhode Island. The formula for the closing endorsement reflected this unanimous consent: "Done in Convention, by the unanimous consent of the States present".
Within three days of its signing, the Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation, which was then sitting in the nation's temporary capital of New York City. The Constitution came into effect in 1789 after the necessary number of state ratifications and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
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39 delegates signed the Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates), endorsed the Constitution. The signing occurred after four months of convention, during which 74 individuals were selected to attend, but only 55 delegates participated. Of those 55, 13 dropped out, and 3 remained engaged in the work but refused to sign the final draft.
The 39 delegates who signed the Constitution were a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, and state governments. Virtually all of them had participated in the American Revolution; seven had signed the Declaration of Independence, and 30 had served in the military. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin. Franklin, despite having reservations about the Constitution, accepted it, stating:
> "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 accept the Constitution... because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."
The signing of the Constitution was a significant event in American history, as it laid out the framework for the nation's federal government and delineated how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) would function. The Constitution was the result of intense debates and revisions and it expanded the power of the central government while protecting the prerogatives of the states.
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The Constitution was created during a four-month-long convention
The United States Constitution was created during a four-month-long convention that took place between May and September 1787. The convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and aimed to address the weaknesses of the central government under the Articles of Confederation. The Constitutional Convention was attended by 74 delegates, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates).
The delegates to the convention included George Washington, who was unanimously elected as the convention's president, and Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer at 81 years old. The final draft of the Constitution, presented on September 12, 1787, was created by a Committee of Style and Arrangement, which included Alexander Hamilton from New York, William Samuel Johnson from Connecticut, Rufus King from Massachusetts, James Madison from Virginia, and Gouverneur Morris from Pennsylvania.
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 55 delegates who participated in the convention, 39 signed the document, representing 11 states, with the lone remaining delegate from New York, Alexander Hamilton, agreeing to the closing endorsement formula. The signatures were gathered as endorsements from the delegates as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present, rather than on behalf of particular states.
The Constitution included four main sections: a preamble, seven articles defining the government's framework, an untitled closing endorsement with the signatures, and 27 amendments adopted under Article V. The document laid out the framework for the nation's federal government, delineating the roles of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. It also established a federal government with more specific powers, particularly in conducting foreign relations.
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The Constitution was influenced by political philosophers like Locke and Hume
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and was influenced by several Enlightenment political philosophers, including John Locke and David Hume.
Locke, a key Enlightenment figure, significantly influenced the American Constitution. His philosophy centred on natural rights: life, liberty, and property. Locke argued that these rights were inherent and unalienable, requiring protection by governments. He believed that everyone was born into a state of perfect freedom and equality, and that no one was inherently superior or inferior. The framers of the Constitution found these ideas compelling and incorporated them into the structure of the document. Locke's views on the social contract also left an impact. He asserted that governments were formed through the consent of the governed, establishing legitimacy and binding the government to serve the people. Locke's concept of the social contract also included the right to revolt if the government failed to protect natural rights or became oppressive. This idea forms the basis of the American constitutional framework's resilience, conveying that governance must remain just and protective of individual liberties.
Locke's endorsement of religious toleration also significantly influenced the Constitution, particularly in the First Amendment. In his "Letter Concerning Toleration," Locke argued for the separation of church and state, asserting that the government should not impose religious practices or dictate beliefs. He contended that faith arises from internal conviction and free choice, rather than being compelled by force. Locke's "Second Treatise on Government" examined human rights and the origins and powers of governments.
Locke's writings contained many specific observations that were realised in the Constitution. The Preamble reflects his view that the people create and consent to the government. Locke's "public trust" concepts are also embodied throughout the document. The presidential veto and the authority of the president to make treaties and conduct foreign affairs are examples of Locke's "federative power," which he associated with the executive. The Constitution's mechanisms for amendments reflect the framers' recognition of future generations' ability to alter their governing contract, an idea influenced by Locke's contention that legitimate governance required transparency and accountability.
While David Hume's direct influence on the Constitution is less clear, his political ideas, such as limited government, private property, and constitutionalism, are first principles of liberalism. Hume's political philosophy emphasised the importance of the rule of law, moderation in politics, public spirit, and regard for the community. During the period of the American Revolution, Hume supported American independence and encouraged total revolt against the British. He took a moderate royalist position, considering revolution unnecessary to achieve reform. Hume's writings on ethics, such as his Treatise (1740) and An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals (1751), may have also influenced the Constitution.
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The Constitution came into effect in 1789
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and came into effect on March 4, 1789. The signing of the Constitution took place at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, which had been convened to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The final draft of the Constitution was presented to the convention on September 12, 1787, and was signed five days later. Within three days of its signing, the Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City, the nation's temporary capital.
The Constitution was ratified, or formally approved, on June 21, 1788, when two-thirds of the states approved it. The 13 colonies that ratified the Constitution later became the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia.
The Constitution includes four sections: an introductory paragraph titled Preamble, a list of seven Articles that define the government's framework, an untitled closing endorsement with the signatures of 39 framers, and 27 amendments that have been adopted under Article V. The Preamble, or the Constitution's introductory paragraph, lays out the purposes of the new government. The first three articles of the Constitution embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Of the 74 delegates who were chosen, 55 attended and 39 signed. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin.
Within three days of its signing, the Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation, then sitting in the nation's temporary capital, New York City. By January 9, 1788, five states had approved the Constitution. It came into effect in 1789 after the necessary number of state ratifications and has served as the basis of the US government ever since.
