Simone Lawson
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America are foundational documents that form the bedrock of the American Charters of Freedom. They were signed and adopted in the same room, the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall), in Philadelphia. The Declaration of Independence was signed and adopted in July 1776, while the Constitution was signed in September 1787. The Declaration was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and was designed to justify breaking away from the British Crown, while the Constitution was created to establish a stronger federal government with limited powers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Declaration of Independence | July 4, 1776 |
| Date of Constitution | September 17, 1787 |
| Place of signing | Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall), Philadelphia |
| Number of sheets of parchment used | Declaration: 1; Constitution: 4 |
| Writers | Declaration: Thomas Jefferson; Constitution: James Madison |
| Signatories | Declaration: 56; Constitution: 39 |
| Oldest Signatory | Declaration: Benjamin Franklin (70); Constitution: Benjamin Franklin (81) |
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What You'll Learn
- The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776
- The US Constitution was signed in 1787
- The Declaration was signed in the Pennsylvania State House
- The Constitution was signed in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House
- The Declaration and Constitution are both enshrined in the Rotunda of the National Archives
The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776
The Declaration of Independence, one of the most important documents in American history, was signed in 1776. It was a formal statement issued by the Continental Congress, declaring the independence of the 13 American colonies from Great Britain. The Declaration was signed by delegates, mostly on August 2, 1776, but signatures continued to be added through the fall of 1776 and possibly as late as 1781.
The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson, who was elected chair of the committee tasked with drafting the document. Jefferson produced the Declaration in about two days, in a rented room near the State House. The document was then presented to the Congress on June 28, 1776, and after some revisions, it was adopted on July 4, 1776.
The Declaration of Independence was signed in the Pennsylvania State House, also known as Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. This is the same room where the Constitution was later signed in 1787. The Declaration was engrossed on parchment, a process of copying an official document in a large hand, by Timothy Matlock or Matlack. It was then signed by 56 delegates, including John Hancock, the President of Congress, whose signature stands out for its boldness.
The Declaration of Independence was a significant moment in American history, as it officially severed political connections with Great Britain and established the independence of the 13 colonies. It also had global implications, as it allowed for the recognition of the United States by foreign governments and enabled the colonists to form official alliances, such as the 1778 alliance with France. The Declaration continues to be an influential statement on human rights, with its assertion that "all men are created equal" being considered one of the most significant lines in world history.
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The US Constitution was signed in 1787
The US Constitution, a four-page document, was signed on September 17, 1787, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, establishing the government of the United States. This building is now known as Independence Hall and is located in Philadelphia. The Constitution was signed by 39 delegates present at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, which had convened on May 25, 1787. The delegates had been authorised by Congress to recommend changes to the existing charter of government for the 13 states, the Articles of Confederation, which many Americans believed had resulted in a weak and ineffective central government. However, it soon became clear that the delegates were working towards forming an entirely new form of government.
The Constitution was drafted in secret, and the signing of the document was preceded by a hard-won battle to win ratification by nine out of 13 states, as dictated by Article VII. The process of ratification began on December 7, 1787, with five states—Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut—quickly ratifying the document. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, and the Confederation Congress established March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating the new government.
The US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were both signed in the same room, the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. The Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776, and the signing continued through the fall of that year and perhaps as late as 1781. Seven men signed both documents: Roger Sherman, George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Morris, James Wilson, George Read, and John Dickinson. Benjamin Franklin, who was 70 years old when he signed the Declaration of Independence, was the oldest signer of that document and, at 81 years old, also the oldest signer of the Constitution.
The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution are two distinct documents. The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 and was a list of grievances against the King of England, intended to justify the separation of the 13 colonies from British rule. In contrast, the US Constitution was created to establish a government and set up a system of checks and balances to ensure no single branch had too much power.
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The Declaration was signed in the Pennsylvania State House
The Declaration of Independence was signed in the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. The Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775, and met in the Pennsylvania State House. The building was constructed for the provincial government, which had lacked an official building for half a century. Construction began in 1732, and while the Assembly met in the building as early as 1735, it was not completed until 1748. In 1750, a tower was added to house the State House bell (now known as the Liberty Bell), which was rung to announce the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776.
The signing of the Declaration of Independence occurred primarily on August 2, 1776, with 56 delegates representing the Thirteen Colonies. The New York delegation abstained as they had not received instructions from Albany to vote for independence. The Declaration proclaimed the independence of the Thirteen Colonies from the Kingdom of Great Britain, marking their separation from the British Empire. The majority of delegates signed on August 2, but signing continued through the fall of 1776 and possibly as late as 1781, as delegates returned to or arrived at Congress.
The date that the Declaration was signed has been a subject of debate. While Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams stated it was signed by Congress on July 4, 1776, when it was adopted, this has been disputed. Legal historian Wilfred Ritz concluded that about 34 delegates signed on July 4, with the rest signing on or after August 2. He argued that the phrase "signed by every member of Congress" in the July 19 resolution referred to delegates who had not signed on July 4 being required to do so later.
The Pennsylvania State House holds a significant place in American history. It was not only the site where the Declaration of Independence was signed but also where the Constitutional Convention was held in 1787, marking another crucial step in the nation's founding. The building has undergone a series of restorations since 1828 and is now a public shrine within Independence National Historical Park.
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The Constitution was signed in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House
The United States Constitution was signed in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, was held in the same room where the Declaration of Independence was signed and adopted in 1776. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, marking a significant moment in American history and the spread of democratic ideals worldwide.
The Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia served as a pivotal venue for shaping the nation's future. The Assembly Room witnessed the drafting and signing of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, with the former occurring in 1776 and the latter in 1787. The State House, now known as Independence Hall, holds a special place in American history as the birthplace of these foundational documents.
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 brought together delegates from twelve states, with the notable absence of Rhode Island, to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation. The delegates, including George Washington, convened in secrecy for four months, debating and compromising to create a new system of government. The result was a federal republic with three branches: executive, legislative, and judiciary.
The Constitution was signed by thirty-nine men, including Benjamin Franklin, who was the oldest signer at 81 years old. The signatures were arranged with the President, George Washington, at the top, followed by the rest of the signatures in state order from north to south. The signing of the Constitution was a crucial step toward establishing a stronger federal government that protected the fundamental rights of its citizens.
The Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, thus played a pivotal role in the creation and signing of the United States Constitution. It served as the venue where delegates from across the nation gathered to draft and sign a document that would shape the future of the country and inspire democratic ideals globally.
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The Declaration and Constitution are both enshrined in the Rotunda of the National Archives
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America are considered the bedrock of the American Charters of Freedom. These Charters of Freedom are enshrined in the Rotunda of the National Archives, located on the upper level, in an altar-like setting. The Rotunda was designed by architect John Russell Pope as a shrine to American democracy. It features two murals by Barry Faulkner, depicting fictional scenes of the "presentations" of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776 and signed in the same year on August 2nd. It was drafted in a rented room not far from the State House, and later signed in the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. The Declaration was a list of grievances against the King of Great Britain, intended to justify the separation of the thirteen colonies from British rule.
The Constitution was written and signed in 1787, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. It was created during the Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention, which took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The Constitution was a charter of government that established a federal republic with three branches: executive, legislative, and judiciary.
Both the Declaration and the Constitution were signed by Benjamin Franklin, who was 70 years old when he signed the Declaration and 81 when he signed the Constitution. These documents have played a significant role in American history and the spread of democratic ideals worldwide. They are considered the most important documents in American history, securing the rights and freedoms of the American people.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. Both documents were signed in the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall).
No. The Declaration of Independence was written in July 1776, while the Constitution was written in 1787.
The Declaration of Independence was designed to justify breaking away from the British government.
The Constitution was designed to establish a stronger central government for the United States of America.
