Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the Constitution occurred at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, which lasted four months and was attended by 55 delegates, 39 of whom signed the document. The Constitution was a group effort that aimed to revise the existing government, but ultimately created a completely new form of government with a powerful central government. The signing of the Constitution was a significant event in American history, as it laid the foundation for the nation's federal government and delineated the functions of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 17 September 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of delegates present | 41 |
| Number of delegates who signed | 39 |
| Number of states represented | 12 |
| Number of states that didn't send delegates | 1 (Rhode Island) |
| Age of the youngest signer | 26 (Jonathan Dayton) |
| Age of the oldest signer | 81 (Benjamin Franklin) |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, engaged in heated debates throughout the summer. They grappled with issues such as state representation in Congress, with larger states advocating for proportional representation and smaller states favouring equal representation. This issue was resolved through the Connecticut Compromise, which proposed a bicameral legislature with proportional representation in the House of Representatives and equal representation in the Senate.
The final document, signed by 39 delegates, outlined a new federal government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. This new form of government addressed the concerns of many that the country was on the brink of collapse due to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade. The signing of the Constitution was a significant step towards creating a more unified and stable nation.
Within three days of its signing, the Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation, which was then sitting in New York City, the nation's temporary capital. The process of ratification then began, with Delaware becoming the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787. The Constitution was not fully ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
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39 delegates endorsed the Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 74 delegates chosen to attend the Constitutional Convention, 55 attended, and 39 signed the Constitution. The delegates represented 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates).
The signing of the Constitution was the culmination of a four-month-long convention that began on May 25, 1787, with representatives from all 13 states invited to convene in Philadelphia. The original purpose of the convention was to amend the Articles of Confederation, but it ultimately led to the creation of a new form of government.
The 39 delegates who endorsed the Constitution ranged in age from Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, to Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair. Franklin, despite having reservations about certain parts of the Constitution, accepted it, saying, "I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."
The closing endorsement of the Constitution, conceived by Gouverneur Morris and presented by Franklin, was intentionally ambiguous to win over dissenting delegates. The advocates of the new frame of government sought unanimous support from the states, and the formula "Done in convention, by the unanimous consent of the states present" was devised to give the appearance of unanimity. The endorsement included a brief declaration stating that the delegates' work had been successfully completed and that those who signed subscribed to the final document.
The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved it, and the Bill of Rights was ratified at the end of the following year.
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The signing took place at Independence Hall, Philadelphia
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The building is considered one of the world's most important symbols of freedom and democracy.
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The convention was led by George Washington
The U.S. Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates, including Alexander Hamilton. The signing took place three months after the Constitutional Convention began on May 25, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The convention was convened to amend the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates ultimately created a new form of government.
Washington's private letters reveal that he supported the Constitution, and Federalists used his image and his signature on the document to urge others to accept it as well. In a letter dated September 17, 1787, which was attached to the Constitution whenever it was printed, Washington wrote:
> "The Constitution, which we now present, is the result of a spirit of amity and of that mutual deference and concession which the peculiarity of our political situation rendered indispensable."
Washington's leadership during the convention was crucial in shaping the future of the United States and resulted in the creation of one of the world's greatest political documents, the United States Constitution.
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The Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation within three days
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates, including Benjamin Franklin, who endorsed the constitution created during the convention. The signing occurred after three months of fierce debate, during which the delegates decided to completely redesign the government. The convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with the initial purpose of amending the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates ultimately proposed and created a new form of government.
The Articles of Confederation, which served as the United States' first constitution, was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789. The Articles gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money.
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was convened due to concerns that the young country was on the brink of collapse. The delegates, representing diverse interests and views, crafted compromises to address issues such as congressional representation, slavery, and state sovereignty. The Constitution they created established a powerful central government, which some Anti-Federalists opposed as it reminded them of the one they had just overthrown.
Within three days of its signing, the Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation, then sitting in New York City, the nation's temporary capital. This swift submission underscores the urgency and importance of implementing the new framework of governance. The Congress of the Confederation played a pivotal role in receiving and advancing the newly signed Constitution toward ratification and enactment.
The ratification process for the Constitution began after its signing and submission to the Congress of the Confederation. By the end of July 1788, 11 of the 13 states had ratified the Constitution. The remaining states, Rhode Island and North Carolina, would not ratify until 1790 and after the Bill of Rights was passed, respectively. The Constitution established a strong central government and addressed the concerns of a nation on the brink of collapse.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was signed in September.
39 delegates signed the US Constitution.
The US Constitution was signed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
