Omar Bennett
The original United States Constitution, the country's supreme law, was handwritten by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, in 1787. Shallus was paid $30 for his work, which was completed in a single day and comprised around 4,000 words over four or five sheets of parchment. The document was written in Roundhand using iron gall ink and a goose quill. Shallus' skilled penmanship is evident in the final product, which can be viewed in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Writer | Jacob Shallus |
| Shallus' role | Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly |
| Medium | Animal skin/parchment |
| Ink | Iron gall ink |
| Writing instrument | Likely a goose quill |
| Writing style | Roundhand |
| Number of pages | 4 or 5 |
| Size of each page | 28 by 23 inches |
| Fee paid to Shallus | $30 |
| Number of words | 4,000 |
| Time taken | One day |
| Date completed | September 16, 1787 |
| Date submitted to Congress | September 28, 1787 |
| Date the Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation | March 4, 1789 |
| Number of amendments since 1789 | 27 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution was handwritten in Roundhand
The United States Constitution was handwritten by Jacob Shallus, the Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Shallus was paid $30 for his work, which was a considerable sum at the time. The document was written in iron gall ink, using a quill, likely made from a goose feather.
The Constitution was written on four or five pieces of animal skin or parchment, each sheet measuring 28 by 23 inches. Shallus' exceptional penmanship skills allowed him to complete the document in a single day, on September 16, 1787. The original Constitution included seven articles and approximately 4,000 words.
The document is written in "Roundhand," a style of cursive writing that predates the Spencerian and Palmer styles. Roundhand is characterised by its quintessential line variance, which would be difficult to achieve with most contemporary non-flexible writing instruments. The use of a quill contributes to the unique characteristics of the handwriting, as evident in the final document.
The Constitution's original parchment is on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum. The document supersedes the Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution. The Constitution introduced a new form of government, delineating the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
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Jacob Shallus was the scribe
The United States Constitution was engrossed by Jacob Shallus, the Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Shallus was the son of German immigrants and a patriotic American, having volunteered in the Revolutionary War. He was likely in the right place at the right time, as the delegates called on someone with the best penmanship possible. Shallus was paid $30 for his work, a considerable amount at the time, which would be the equivalent of around $900 today.
Shallus' task was to take the drafts created by the framers and transcribe them with attractive penmanship. He completed the final document in a single day on September 16, 1787, just one day before the Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. Shallus wrote the approximately 4,000 words of the Constitution across four or five pieces of parchment, each measuring 28 by 23 inches. The document was written in iron gall ink, likely using a goose quill. The style of handwriting used is known as "Roundhand," which is known for its quintessential line variance.
The original Constitution, handwritten by Shallus, is on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution has since been amended 27 times, with the first ten amendments collectively known as the Bill of Rights.
While James Madison is often regarded as the writer of the Constitution, his role was primarily that of a note-taker, drafter, and influential figure in the committee. Madison's work, along with that of Gouverneur Morris, provided the content that Shallus then transcribed with his exceptional handwriting.
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James Madison was the writer
The United States Constitution, the supreme law of the United States, superseded the nation's first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, on March 4, 1789. The drafting of the Constitution, often referred to as its framing, was completed at the Constitutional Convention, which assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The document was signed on September 17, 1787, and within three days, it was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation, then sitting in New York City, the nation's temporary capital.
James Madison is known as the writer of the US Constitution. Madison played a significant role as one of the key note-takers, drafters, and influential figures in the committee that put the final touches together. Madison is quoted as saying that he barely left any sessions for more than a few minutes, while 19 out of 74 delegates invited never attended any. Without his work, as well as the text from Gouverneur Morris, there would have been nothing to endorse. However, Madison did not have the skills needed for the perfect final product, and so the duty of physically writing out the clauses went to a clerk, Jacob Shallus.
Shallus, the Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, engrossed the Constitution in his exceptional handwriting. He was chosen for his beautiful penmanship, and he completed the piece in just a single day on September 16, 1787, an impressive feat for a handwritten work of around 4,000 words over four sheets of parchment. Shallus received $30 for his work, a considerable amount for that time.
The original US Constitution was handwritten on five pages of parchment using iron gall ink and a quill, likely a goose quill. The document is written in "Roundhand," and each sheet measures 28 by 23 inches.
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It was written on four/five pieces of animal skin/parchment
The original US Constitution was handwritten on four or five pieces of animal skin or parchment. It was penned by Jacob Shallus, the Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, in iron gall ink, using a quill, likely made from goose feathers. Shallus was chosen for his exceptional penmanship, and he completed the document in a single day on 16 September 1787, an impressive feat considering the document's length of around 4,000 words. Each sheet of parchment was 28 by 23 inches, and the text was written in the "Roundhand" style, which is known for its distinctive line variance. Shallus received $30 for his work, a considerable sum at the time, equivalent to around $900 in today's money.
The Constitution was the culmination of months of debates and deliberations by the founding fathers, including James Madison, who is often regarded as the most important figure in its creation. Madison played a crucial role as a note-taker, drafter, and influential member of the committee. However, it was Shallus's skilled penmanship that beautifully engrossed the final document, ensuring it was well-written and legible.
The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, becoming operational in 1789 and establishing a new form of government. It originally included seven articles and outlined the separation of powers into three branches: the legislative, consisting of a bicameral Congress; the executive, led by the President; and the judicial, comprising the Supreme Court and other federal courts. The Constitution has since been amended 27 times, with the first ten amendments collectively known as the Bill of Rights, protecting individual liberties and restricting government powers.
As the supreme law of the United States, the Constitution has undergone a long process of interpretation, supplementation, and implementation, influencing not only federal constitutional law but also the constitutions of other nations. The original document, inscribed by Shallus, is on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum, preserving the historical record of the nation's foundational principles.
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It was completed in a single day
The original US Constitution was handwritten on four or five pieces of parchment by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, in 1787. Shallus was chosen for his exceptional penmanship, and his task was to transcribe the drafts created by the framers of the Constitution, making them look good on the page. This was a highly skilled endeavour, requiring him to transcribe around 4,000 words onto four sheets of parchment, each measuring 28 by 23 inches. Remarkably, Shallus completed this task in a single day, on September 16, 1787, and was paid $30 for his work, a considerable sum at the time.
Shallus' achievement is all the more impressive when one considers the tools he would have used. The document was written in iron gall ink, using a quill, likely made from goose. This would have required a great deal of skill, as the idiosyncrasies of the quill are evident in the writing it produces. The style of handwriting used is known as "Roundhand", which is characterised by a quintessential line variance.
Shallus' work has often been overlooked, with many assuming that because James Madison was named as the writer of the Constitution, it is his handwriting that appears on the final document. However, Madison's role was that of a note-taker and drafter, and while his contributions were significant, he did not have the skills required for the perfect final product. Shallus' exceptional penmanship ensured that the final document was well-written and legible, allowing it to be reproduced and distributed to the public.
Within three days of its signing on September 17, 1787, the Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City. The speed with which the document was transcribed, reproduced, and disseminated is a testament to the skill and efficiency of those involved in its creation, including Shallus, whose role in producing the final document in a single day should not be understated.
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Frequently asked questions
The original US Constitution was handwritten by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Shallus was paid $30 for his work, which was a considerable amount at the time.
The Constitution was written on four or five pieces of animal skin or parchment, using iron gall ink and a quill, likely made from goose.
The Constitution was written in "Roundhand", a style of cursive that predates both Spencerian and Palmer.
