Eleanor Finch
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It was originally written in English and was inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment. However, it is interesting to note that German and Dutch language printers also translated and published the Constitution, as significant portions of the electorate spoke languages other than English.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Language of the original document | English |
| Date of the original document | 1787 |
| Date the English version was printed | 1787 |
| Number of English versions printed | 3,000 |
| Date the German version was printed | 1787 |
| Number of German versions printed | 1,500 |
| Date the Dutch version was printed | 1788 |
| Official language of the United States | English |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The original American Constitution was written in English
However, it is important to note that English was not the only language in which the Constitution was presented to the public. As the news of the Constitution spread, thousands of copies were republished and distributed for debate, and non-English versions were also created to reach parts of the electorate who spoke languages other than English.
In Pennsylvania, where about a third of the population was German, the Assembly ordered 3,000 copies of the Constitution to be printed in English and 1,500 in German. The German translation was done by Michael Billmeyer, and the document was distributed throughout the state. In Maryland, the state government authorized a German translation of the Proceedings of the Constitutional Convention in November 1787, published by Matthias Bartgis.
In addition to German translations, the Constitution was also translated into Dutch. In New York, the document was translated into Dutch to be accessible to residents in the Albany area who spoke the language during the pitched public debate in the state. The Dutch translation was created by a minister, Lambertus de Ronde, and printed by Charles Webster, the owner of the Albany Gazette and Albany Journal.
These non-English versions of the Constitution provide valuable insights into the original public meaning of the document and how certain concepts were presented to speakers of different languages.
The US Constitution: A Historical Overview
You may want to see also
German and Dutch translations were also printed
The American Constitution was originally written in English. However, German and Dutch translations were also printed. This was because significant portions of the electorate in states like Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland spoke languages other than English. In Pennsylvania, about 37% of the population was of German origin and spoke German as their primary language.
The Pennsylvania Assembly ordered 3,000 copies of the Constitution to be printed in English and 1,500 in German. The German version was printed by Michael Billmeyer, but the translator remains unknown. The Dutch version was created and printed in 1788 at the request of pro-Federalist groups who wanted Dutch-speaking residents in the Albany area to have access to the Constitution during the pitched public debate in New York state. The translator was a minister, Lambertus de Ronde, and the printer, Charles Webster, owned the Albany Gazette and Albany Journal.
The differences in translation offer a unique look at how German and Dutch speakers were presented with some concepts that varied from the English version. The translators made simple mistakes and, in some cases, used English words when there wasn't a native-language alternative. For example, the German translation of the Constitution's title is "Verfahren der Vereinigten Convention, gehalten zu Philadelphia, in dem Jahr 1787, und dem Zwolften Jahr der Americanischen Unabhangigkeit".
Abortion and the Constitution: Historical Context
You may want to see also
The Pennsylvania Assembly ordered 3,000 English copies
The American Constitution was written in English. However, in 1787, the Founding Fathers proposed a new Constitution that would significantly change America. Interestingly, some residents of Pennsylvania and New York were presented with versions of the Constitution that differed from the one approved in Philadelphia. This is evidenced by a recent study that examined German- and Dutch-language printed versions of the Constitution distributed to residents of these two states.
The German-language version of the Constitution was translated by an unknown translator, and Michael Billmeyer was hired to print it. The Dutch version, on the other hand, was created and printed in 1788 at the request of pro-Federalist groups. They wanted Dutch-speaking residents in the Albany area to have access to the Constitution during the public debate in New York state. The translator of the Dutch version was a minister named Lambertus de Ronde, and Charles Webster, the owner of the Albany Gazette and Albany Journal, was the printer.
The existence of these German- and Dutch-language versions of the Constitution provides valuable insights into the original public meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The translations reflect the interpretive choices made by the translators and how Dutch and German speakers would have understood certain concepts. However, it is important to note that the translations may have resulted in a slight shift in meaning, and specialized knowledge is required to fully analyze the differences in translation.
Today, English has been designated as the official language of the United States. This decision was made to promote unity, cultivate a shared American culture, ensure consistent government operations, and create a pathway to civic engagement. Establishing English as the official language is expected to streamline communication, reinforce national values, and foster a more cohesive and efficient society.
The Constitution and Bible: What's the Connection?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
1,500 German copies were ordered by the Pennsylvania Assembly
The American Constitution was originally written in English. However, in 1787, the Founding Fathers proposed a new Constitution that would profoundly change America. Some residents of Pennsylvania and New York were given versions of the Constitution that differed from the one approved in Philadelphia.
One week after the Constitutional Convention approved a document on 17 September 1787, the Pennsylvania Assembly ordered 3,000 versions printed in English and 1,500 printed in German for distribution to the public. At the time, about 37% of Pennsylvania's population was German in origin. The authors of the German translation were not named, but Michael Billmeyer was hired to print it.
The German and Dutch versions of the Constitution were created to provide residents of the two states with access to the document as it was publicly debated. The authors of a study of the rare documents, Christina Mulligan, Michael Douma, Hans Lind, and Brian Quinn, stated that:
> "The translations also provide evidence of the original public meaning of the U.S. Constitution, as reflected in the translators’ interpretive choices and in how the translations would have been understood by Dutch and German speakers."
The Pennsylvania State Archives Collections include records of accounts for various state departments, including the General Assembly. These records detail the day-to-day functions of each department, including expenses for translating laws into German and distributing copies of bills and government reports.
Americans' Knowledge of Constitution's History
You may want to see also
The Dutch translation was printed in 1788
The American Constitution was originally written in English. However, in 1787, the Founding Fathers proposed a new Constitution that profoundly changed America. At the time, there were fierce political battles about ratification waged at the state level. The Constitution had to be "ratified", or certified/accepted by 9 of the original 13 states.
In this tumultuous political environment, a Dutch-born minister in upstate New York named Lambertus De Ronde translated the U.S. Constitution into Dutch in 1788. De Ronde was a respected elder minister with a command of written and spoken Dutch that was likely seen as authoritative by the Dutch-descent New Yorkers who sent their children to schools taught in English. De Ronde himself had struggled to learn English, and though he eventually did, he may have never written or spoken the language well. Thus, when he took on the task of translating the new constitution into Dutch, he likely felt that he could read the language well enough to explain it to his fellow Dutch New Yorkers.
De Ronde's translation was supported by the Albany Federalist Party, and it was printed on at least two separate occasions in 1788. The Dutch-language version may have impressed older leaders in upper New York, but the region was carried by the anti-Federalists, who opposed the Constitution in the state delegation voting process. De Ronde's translation was said to have had "tremendous influence among older men of the state... securing New York for the Union and Constitution."
The existence of this Dutch translation, alongside a German translation produced around the same time, provides a window into how early Americans might have understood the words of one of their founding documents.
Unwritten vs Written Constitution: Key Differences Explained
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was originally written in English.
Yes, there were German and Dutch translations of the US Constitution. In 1787, the Pennsylvania Assembly ordered 3,000 copies in English and 1,500 in German to be printed and distributed to the public. In 1788, a Dutch version was also created and printed at the request of pro-Federalist groups in New York.
Translations of the US Constitution were necessary because large portions of the electorate spoke languages other than English. In Pennsylvania, about one-third of the population spoke German as their primary language.
