Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution was signed in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787, by 38 of the 41 delegates present at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention. The Constitutional Convention was held in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. The Constitution was written and signed in the same place the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, which had been ratified in 1781, and the nation needed a better system of government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, Philadelphia |
| Date | May 25, 1787 to September 17, 1787 |
| Number of Delegates | 55 |
| Number of States Represented | 12 |
| Number of Delegates Who Signed | 38 or 39 out of 41 |
| Date of Ratification | June 21, 1788 |
| Number of States Required for Ratification | 9 out of 13 |
| Date the Constitution Became Law | March 4, 1789 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitutional Convention
The State House, also known as Independence Hall, was the site of the Convention. This historic building had previously witnessed significant moments in American history, including the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the signing of the Articles of Confederation. Fifty-five delegates, representing 12 of the 13 original states (except Rhode Island), gathered to engage in passionate and thoughtful deliberations over the course of several months. The delegates included notable figures such as Benjamin Franklin, who, at 81, was the oldest delegate, and George Washington, who served as president of the convention.
The initial mandate of the Convention was to amend the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates quickly abandoned this idea and set out to create an entirely new form of government. The Convention witnessed the emergence of two factions: the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. The proposal was debated, criticised, and scrutinised clause by clause, and the delegates worked to find compromises.
The final document, the Constitution of the United States, was signed on September 17, 1787 by 38 of the 41 delegates present. It established a federal government with three branches: the legislative, consisting of a 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 also outlined the rights and responsibilities of state governments and their relationship to the federal government.
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The signing location
The U.S. Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. The building had earlier seen the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the signing of the Articles of Confederation. The Constitutional Convention was convened in Philadelphia, with delegates from 12 of the 13 original states in attendance (Rhode Island did not send delegates). The delegates began arriving in the city in early May 1787, and the convention officially opened on May 25, 1787, lasting until September 17, 1787, when the Constitution was signed.
Philadelphia had a diverse population of approximately 40,000 people in 1787, with a range of religious faiths and backgrounds, including free and enslaved people, Native Americans, immigrants, and American-born citizens. The city had about 6,500 houses, 415 shops and stores, and a bustling riverfront with ships docking from around the world. The delegates to the convention found lodgings in taverns and boarding houses near the State House.
The State House, or Independence Hall, was a historic building even at the time of the Constitutional Convention. It was the site of the Second Continental Congress in 1775, where George Washington was appointed general of the Continental Army, and it also saw the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention, including George Washington, who served as president of the convention, and Benjamin Franklin, the oldest delegate at 81, would have been aware of the building's history as they worked on the important task of drafting and signing the Constitution.
The original signed, handwritten Constitution is now housed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., where it can be viewed by the public.
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The delegates
The Constitution was the result of months of passionate, thoughtful deliberation among the delegates. The delegates to the convention were chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states; Rhode Island refused to send delegates. In total, there were 55 delegates to the convention, however, only 39 signed the document.
Many of the delegates lodged in taverns and respectable boarding houses near the state house. Mrs. Mary House and her daughter Eliza Trist ran House's Boarding House at the corner of Fifth and Market Streets. Other delegates, including Edmund Randolph, James McHenry, John Dickinson, George Reed, and Charles Pinckney, joined Madison there.
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The ratification process
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia. However, it did not become law immediately after being signed by the delegates. It needed to be ratified by the people. Article VII of the Constitution established the process for ratification, stating that the approval of nine out of thirteen states was required for the establishment of the Constitution.
A compromise was reached in February 1788, where it was agreed that amendments would be immediately proposed in exchange for the ratification of the Constitution by Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, and it was established that the government under the US Constitution would begin on March 4, 1789. The remaining states, including Virginia and New York, ratified the Constitution in the following months.
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The impact on Philadelphia
Philadelphia played a pivotal role in the drafting and signing of the US Constitution. The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, was held in the city's State House, now known as Independence Hall. This historic building had previously witnessed significant moments in American history, including the convening of the Second Continental Congress in 1775, the appointment of George Washington as general of the Continental Army, and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Philadelphia's diverse population, cultural offerings, and bustling streets also set the stage for the momentous events of the summer of 1787. The city had approximately 40,000 residents, including men, women, and children of various ethnicities, faiths, and social statuses. The delegates to the convention, who represented 12 of the 13 original states, found lodgings in taverns and boarding houses near the State House. They dined and discussed the nation's future in the city's taverns and celebrated the Fourth of July as the convention proceedings unfolded.
The impact of Philadelphia extended beyond the physical location of the Constitutional Convention. The city's intellectual and cultural life also influenced the delegates. Benjamin Franklin, a Philadelphia resident, played a crucial role in the city's educational and cultural institutions. The Library Company of Philadelphia, founded by Franklin in 1731, had become the largest public library in the United States by the 1780s. Additionally, Franklin supported the College of Philadelphia, which offered a classical education. These institutions provided a backdrop to the intellectual deliberations and debates that took place during the convention.
The city's diverse and vibrant character, along with its historical significance, undoubtedly influenced the delegates as they grappled with the task of creating a new form of government. Philadelphia's role as a cultural and intellectual hub, combined with its place in the Revolutionary War and the fight for independence, made it a fitting setting for the birth of the US Constitution. The city's impact on the delegates and the proceedings contributed to the shaping of the nation's future.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written and signed in Philadelphia, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall.
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787.
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.
The US Constitution delineates the frame of the federal government. The Constitution's first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
No, the US Constitution did not go into effect immediately after it was signed. It needed to be ratified by nine of the 13 states as per Article VII of the Constitution. The Constitution became law on June 21, 1788, and the government under the US Constitution began on March 4, 1789.
