Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution is a fascinating document, and not just because it's the oldest and most influential national constitution in the world. Here are some interesting facts about the US Constitution:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of words | 4543 words (7762 if you count the Amendments) |
| Number of pages | 4 large sheets of paper |
| Number of delegates at the Constitutional Convention | 55 |
| Number of lawyers among the delegates | 34 |
| Oldest delegate | 81 years old (Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania) |
| Youngest delegate | 26 years old (Jonathon Dayton of New Jersey) |
| Number of amendments proposed | More than 11,000 |
| Number of amendments sent to states for ratification | 33 |
| Number of amendments approved by states | 27 |
| Year written | 1787 |
| Year ratified by nine states | 1788 |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution is the oldest and most influential written national constitution
- It was written by 55 delegates, 39 of whom signed, and most were lawyers
- The document was prepared in secret, behind locked doors
- It's only 4,543 words, 7,762 with the Amendments
- Over 11,000 amendments have been proposed, but the chance of change is slim
The US Constitution is the oldest and most influential written national constitution
The US Constitution, written in 1787 and signed on September 17 of that year, is the oldest written national constitution in the world. It was prepared in secret, behind locked doors guarded by sentries in the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. The building holds historical significance as the site where the Declaration of Independence was signed and where George Washington received his commission as Commander of the Continental Army. The Constitution was ratified by the necessary nine states in 1788, and in 1791, Americans added a list of rights known as the Bill of Rights, comprising the first ten amendments.
The US Constitution is also considered the most influential written national constitution. It united a group of states with diverse interests, laws, and cultures under a single national government, creating a sense of unity among its citizens. The Constitution's impact extended beyond the US borders, inspiring and shaping democratic governments worldwide. Its principles and structures have been adopted and adapted by numerous nations striving for freedom, justice, and representative governance.
The Constitution-making process was challenging, aiming to balance various interests and ensure fair representation. Of the 55 delegates at the Constitutional Convention, 39 signed, and two prominent Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, were absent, representing their country in France and Great Britain, respectively. Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest delegate, and Jonathon Dayton, at 26, was the youngest. The delegates' professions, with 34 lawyers among them, did not fully reflect the American electorate, as only one delegate, Georgia's William Few, represented the interests of the country's significant farming population.
The Constitution has been amended several times to adapt to changing societal needs and perspectives. Over 11,000 amendments have been proposed, but only 27 have received approval, demonstrating the rigorous process of amending this foundational document. The first ten amendments, added in 1791, addressed the lack of a description of individual rights in the original Constitution. These amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, guaranteed essential freedoms and protections for American citizens.
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It was written by 55 delegates, 39 of whom signed, and most were lawyers
The U.S. Constitution was written by 55 delegates, 39 of whom signed the document. The remaining delegates did not sign for various reasons. For example, two of America's Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, did not sign because they were representing their country in France and Great Britain, respectively, at the time. Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest delegate at the convention, and he had to be carried to the convention. Jonathon Dayton, at 26, was the youngest delegate.
Of the 55 delegates, 34 were lawyers, and nearly all of them had previously held some kind of public office. However, this did not reflect the American electorate at the time, which was predominantly made up of farmers. Only one delegate, Georgia's William Few, represented the interests of farmers, having been born into a yeoman farming family. However, even he was a lawyer and politician by the time of the convention.
The delegates worked on the Constitution in the same Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed and where George Washington received his commission as Commander of the Continental Army. The building still stands today in Philadelphia, across from the National Constitution Center. The Constitution was written in 1787 and signed on September 17 of that year. It was prepared in secret, behind locked doors guarded by sentries.
The process of creating the Constitution was challenging, and the intent was not initially to create a new constitution. Some framers wanted to limit the size of the army, and America's farmers were underrepresented. It took 60 separate ballots for the delegates to accept the Electoral College, which was seen as a compromise between those who favoured a direct popular vote and those who preferred a congressional vote for choosing the president.
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The document was prepared in secret, behind locked doors
The United States Constitution was prepared in utmost secrecy, behind locked doors guarded by sentries. The process of drafting the document was a clandestine affair, with delegates working behind closed doors to shape the nation's future. This secrecy was intended to ensure that the proceedings were conducted without external influence or interference and to facilitate open and frank discussions among the delegates.
The Constitutional Convention, which took place in 1787, brought together 55 delegates, of whom 39 ultimately signed the document. Notably, two of America's Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, were absent during the signing as they were representing their country abroad.
The delegates who crafted the Constitution were a diverse group, with 34 of the 56 being lawyers. However, despite the majority of them being lawyers, the group did not truly represent the American electorate, as only one delegate, Georgia's William Few, could be considered a representative of the farming community, the backbone of the nation at the time.
The Constitution was written in the same Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed and where George Washington received his commission as Commander of the Continental Army. The building still stands today in Philadelphia, a testament to the historical significance of the events that took place within its walls.
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It's only 4,543 words, 7,762 with the Amendments
The US Constitution is a concise document, comprising just 4,543 words; this increases to 7,762 words when the Amendments are included. It was originally written on four large sheets of paper. Despite its brevity, it is a powerful document, uniting a group of states with different interests, laws, and cultures. It is the oldest written national constitution in the world and is considered the most influential.
The Constitution was written in the same Pennsylvania State House where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and where George Washington received his commission as Commander of the Continental Army. The building, now called Independence Hall, still stands in Philadelphia.
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified by the necessary nine states the following year. It was prepared in secret, behind locked doors guarded by sentries. The original framers and many state delegates were troubled by the absence of a description of individual rights. This was rectified in 1791, when the first ten amendments, known as The Bill of Rights, were added to the Constitution.
Of the 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention, 39 signed, and 3 dissented. Two of America's Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, did not sign the Constitution as they were representing their country in France and Britain respectively. Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest delegate, and Jonathon Dayton, 26, the youngest.
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Over 11,000 amendments have been proposed, but the chance of change is slim
The US Constitution has proved to be a remarkably durable document. Written in 1787, it is the oldest written national constitution in the world. It is also the shortest, at just 4,543 words or 7,762 if you include the amendments.
Over the past two centuries, more than 11,000 amendments to the Constitution have been proposed. However, the chance of Article V being changed is slim. Of those 11,000, only 33 have been sent to the states for ratification and only 27 have been approved. In other words, the percentage chance of getting an amendment passed is effectively zero.
The Constitution was prepared in secret, behind locked doors guarded by sentries. It was signed on 17 September 1787 but it wasn't until 1788 that it was ratified by the necessary nine states. The first national "Thanksgiving Day" was created by George Washington as a way of "giving thanks" for the Constitution.
The original intent was not to create a new constitution. Some framers wanted to limit the size of the army. Benjamin Franklin, at 81 the oldest delegate, had to be carried to the convention. America's farmers were underrepresented. It took 60 separate ballots for the delegates to finally accept the Electoral College.
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