Isabella Carter
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which refused to send delegates). The signatories included Jonathan Dayton, the youngest signer at 26, and Benjamin Franklin, the oldest at 81, who was carried to sessions in a sedan chair due to his infirmity. The delegates represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, or state government, and virtually all had participated in the American Revolution. The signing took place at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, marking the culmination of a four-month-long convention that debated and crafted the framework for the nation's federal government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of signatories | 39 |
| Age range | 26 to 81 |
| Roles | Governors, members of state government, members of the Continental Congress, military personnel, framers of the Constitution |
| States represented | 12 out of 13 (all except Rhode Island) |
| Previous experience | American Revolution, signing of the Declaration of Independence |
| Notable signatories | Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John Dickinson, William Jackson, James Madison Jr., Jonathan Dayton |
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What You'll Learn
Age range of the signatories
The age range of the 39 signatories of the US Constitution was 26 to 81. Jonathan Dayton, at 26 years old, was the youngest signer, while Benjamin Franklin, at 81 years old, was the oldest. Franklin was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
The 39 signatories were chosen from 70 or 74 delegates who were selected to attend the Constitutional Convention. Of these, 55 participated in the convention, though 13 dropped out, either for personal reasons or in protest of decisions made during the convention. Three of the 42 remaining delegates refused to sign the final draft.
The delegates represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with individuals having experience in local, colonial, or state government. Virtually all of them had taken part in the American Revolution; seven had signed the Declaration of Independence, and 30 had served on active military duty.
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Signatories' stances on the document
The US Constitution was signed by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates). The delegates were a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, and state government. Virtually all of them had taken part in the American Revolution, seven had signed the Declaration of Independence, and 30 had served on active military duty.
The delegates ranged in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair. Franklin summed up the sentiments of those who did sign, saying, "There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them." He would accept the Constitution, "because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best".
Despite the perceived imperfections of the document, Franklin strongly endorsed the Constitution, hoping to gain the support of critics and create a sense of common accord. The delegates who signed the Constitution did so as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present, rather than on behalf of particular states, as they had in the Articles of Confederation.
While some signatories, like George Washington, had served in the Continental Congress, others, like Richard Bassett of Delaware, John Blair of Virginia, David Brearley of New Jersey, Jacob Broom of Delaware, and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina, had not served in the Continental or Confederation Congresses. Some signatories, like William Livingston, who was serving as the first governor of New Jersey, supported the New Jersey Plan and pushed for the state's swift ratification. Livingston died in 1790, just two years after the Constitution was ratified. Other signatories, like Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, did not speak much during the Convention but supported the idea of a strong national government.
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Signatories' previous roles
The 39 signatories of the US Constitution were a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, and state governments. They represented 12 of the 13 original states (all except Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates).
The signatories included seven who had signed the Declaration of Independence, and 30 who had served on active military duty. Several had served in the Continental Congress, and many had fought the British during the American Revolution.
Some of the signatories had also served in other capacities. For example, William Livingston was the first governor of New Jersey when he was elected to serve at the Constitutional Convention. He supported the New Jersey Plan and pushed for the state's swift ratification. Jonathan Dayton, the youngest signer at 26, was another signatory from New Jersey. Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer at 81, was a delegate from Pennsylvania. John Dickinson, who was indisposed by illness, authorized George Read to sign his name by proxy. Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, who remained at the Convention on behalf of Maryland, had served the state in various high-ranking positions throughout the war.
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Signatories' attendance at the convention
Of the 70 to 74 individuals chosen as delegates to the Constitutional Convention, only 55 attended the sessions. The delegates came from 12 states, with Rhode Island being the only state that refused to send representatives. The attendees included those with experience in local, colonial, and state governments, as well as individuals who had actively participated in the American Revolution. Notably, seven of the signatories had also signed the Declaration of Independence, and 30 had served in the military.
The signatories included prominent figures such as Benjamin Franklin, the oldest at 81, who was cautiously optimistic about the Constitution and hoped it would last a generation. Jonathan Dayton, the youngest at 26, was also among the signatories. William Livingston, the first governor of New Jersey, served on a committee that helped develop a resolution on slavery and supported the state's swift ratification. Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, a regular attendee but a man of few words, supported the idea of a strong national government and favoured a legislature with taxation powers.
The convention also witnessed the presence of delegates who chose not to sign the final document. Three delegates, Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, George Mason of Virginia, and Edmund Randolph, refused to sign, expressing their preference for the decentralised nature of the Articles of Confederation. Additionally, John Dickinson, who was absent due to illness, authorised George Read to sign on his behalf.
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Signatories' reasons for not signing
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 74 individuals selected to attend the Constitutional Convention, 55 delegates participated, with 39 signing the Constitution. The signatories represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, and state governments. Virtually all of them had taken part in the American Revolution, with seven having signed the Declaration of Independence, and 30 having served on active military duty.
Despite the majority of delegates signing the Constitution, several attendees left before the signing ceremony, and three of the 42 who remained refused to sign. The reasons for not signing varied, with some delegates choosing not to attend the convention, and others dropping out during the proceedings for personal reasons or in protest of certain decisions. Here are some specific examples of signatories' reasons for not signing:
- Edmund Randolph and Elbridge Gerry from Massachusetts were among the most vocal opponents of the Constitution. Randolph declared that his refusal to sign was "dictated by my conscience, and it is not possible for me to hesitate, much less, to change." Gerry believed that the Constitution combined negative options of two opposing views: "one devoted to democracy, the worst of all political evils, the other as violent in the opposite extreme."
- Luther Martin, who regarded the Constitution as a "stab in the back of the goddess of liberty."
- Delegates from smaller states, such as the Delaware delegation, threatened to walk out when the Constitution failed to include provisions for their states.
- Some delegates wanted a Bill of Rights included in the Constitution to specifically outline and protect certain freedoms.
- Rhode Island did not send any delegates to the Constitutional Convention, and thus none of its representatives signed the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
The signers of the Constitution represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with individuals having experience in local or colonial and state government. Many had also fought in the American Revolution, and seven had signed the Declaration of Independence.
Yes, the signers of the Constitution had diverse political beliefs. While some supported a strong national government, others favoured a decentralized structure with more power for the states. There were also differing opinions on issues such as the regulation of commerce, the election of the president, and the representation of slaves in the population.
The youngest signer of the Constitution was Jonathan Dayton, at 26 years old. The oldest was Benjamin Franklin, at 81 years old, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
