Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the Constitution occurred after a four-month-long convention, during which 55 delegates participated, with 39 signing the final document. The convention's purpose was to amend the Articles of Confederation, which many Americans believed had created a weak and ineffective central government. However, the delegates ultimately created a new form of government, establishing a powerful central government and outlining the roles of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 17th of September, 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of signatures | 39 |
| Number of delegates present | 41 |
| Number of delegates who signed | 38 |
| Number of delegates who refused to sign | 3 |
| Youngest signer | Jonathan Dayton, 26 |
| Oldest signer | Benjamin Franklin, 81 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The creation of the US Constitution was a lengthy and contentious process. It began with concerns about the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, which gave the Confederation Congress rule-making and funding powers but lacked enforcement and regulatory capabilities. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared that these shortcomings could lead the young nation to collapse. As a result, a Grand Convention of state delegates was convened in Philadelphia in May 1787 to revise the Articles.
The Constitutional Convention, conducted under an oath of secrecy, lasted for four months and involved intense debates. The delegates, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island), grappled with conflicting interests and views to craft a powerful central government while addressing concerns about centralized power. The final document was a compromise that laid the framework for the nation's federal government and delineated the functions of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787, was a unanimous decision, with 38 or 39 delegates signing the document. The signatures included George Read signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note verifying four handwritten amendments and signed to authenticate the document's validity. The Constitution then needed to be ratified by the people, with Article VII requiring ratification by nine of the 13 states for it to become binding.
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39 delegates signed the Constitution
The US Constitution was signed into existence on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was the same place where the Declaration of Independence was signed. The signing of the US Constitution occurred after four months of intense debate and discussion. The Constitutional Convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, and the first public printing of the Constitution was published in a newspaper, The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser, on September 19, 1787—two days after the Constitution was signed.
The signing of the US Constitution was a significant event, with 39 delegates endorsing the document. Of the 74 delegates chosen to attend the Constitutional Convention, 55 participated, and 39 signed. The youngest signer was Jonathan Dayton, at 26, while Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest. The delegates came from 12 states, with Rhode Island declining to send representatives. The signatures on the Constitution included a brief declaration stating that the delegates' work had been successfully completed and that those who signed it agreed to its contents.
The process of creating the US Constitution began with concerns about the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states but lacked enforcement powers and the ability to regulate commerce or print money. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared that these weaknesses could lead to the country's collapse. Alexander Hamilton played a crucial role in convincing Congress to organise a Grand Convention of state delegates to revise the Articles.
The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, began on May 25, 1787, and continued for four months. The delegates appointed committees to put their decisions in writing and shape the final form of the document. The resulting US Constitution created a powerful central government, addressing the concerns of the Anti-Federalists, who had opposed the Articles of Confederation due to their reminders of the overthrown government. The Constitution laid out a framework for the nation's federal government, delineating the functions of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The US Constitution, signed by 39 delegates, has endured as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world.
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The signing took place at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The signing of the United States Constitution took place at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 17, 1787. Independence Hall, then known as the Pennsylvania State House, was also where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, was convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787, and was conducted under an oath of secrecy. The delegates, representing 12 of the 13 states, gathered in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House to revise the existing Articles of Confederation, which many believed had created a weak and ineffective central government. However, it soon became clear that the delegates were working towards a new form of government.
The final document was signed by 39 delegates, with George Read signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest signer, while Jonathan Dayton, at 26, was the youngest. The signing ceremony was followed by a farewell dinner at the City Tavern.
The procedure for amending the Constitution is outlined in Article V. The process is overseen by the Archivist of the United States. The document's closing protocol included signatures, a declaration of successful completion, and a statement of adoption by the states present.
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The signing occurred after a four-month convention
The United States Constitution was signed into existence on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This signing occurred after a four-month convention, known as the Constitutional Convention, which assembled in Philadelphia in May of 1787. The convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, so the first public printing of the Constitution was published in a newspaper, The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser, on September 19, 1787—two days after the Constitution was signed.
The Constitutional Convention was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which many Americans believed had created a weak and ineffective central government. However, it quickly became clear that the delegates were forming an entirely new form of government. The delegates were tasked with revising the existing government, but they ended up creating a powerful central government. Representing a wide range of interests and views, they crafted compromises to address disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade that threatened to tear the young country apart.
The final document was signed by 39 delegates, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates). The signatures were obtained as individual witnesses to what was done in the convention, rather than on behalf of particular states. Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest signer, and he summed up the sentiments of those who did sign with the statement: "There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them." The signing was also authenticated by the convention's secretary, William Jackson, who added a note to verify four amendments made by hand to the final document.
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The document was ratified by nine of the 13 existing states
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was the culmination of a four-month-long Constitutional Convention, which began on May 25, 1787. The signing of the Constitution was an important milestone, but it did not immediately go into effect. The document required ratification by nine of the 13 existing states for it to be established as the governing framework.
The process of achieving ratification was not without challenges and opposition. The Anti-Federalists, for instance, criticised the Constitution for creating a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had just overthrown. They also argued that it lacked a bill of rights to protect essential freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. Despite these concerns, the Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, lobbied vigorously for its ratification. They produced "The Federalist Papers," a series of 85 essays that explained and defended the proposed new government.
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787. This was followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The tide turned in Massachusetts, where a compromise was reached to secure its ratification, which also influenced the final holdouts. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, fulfilling the requirement for establishing the Constitution.
The achievement of ratification by nine states was a significant milestone, but it took longer for all states to approve the document. It wasn't until May 29, 1790, that Rhode Island, the last state, finally approved the Constitution. The Bill of Rights, which addressed the concerns about individual liberties, was ratified at the end of the following year, further strengthening the foundation of the nation's governance.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was signed into existence on September 17, 1787.
The US Constitution was signed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
39 delegates signed the US Constitution.
The US Constitution lays out the frame of the nation's federal government and delineates how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) are to function.
The US Constitution went into effect on March 4, 1789, after being ratified by nine states.
