Isabella Carter
On September 17, 1787, 39 delegates signed the United States Constitution, which replaced the Articles of Confederation and established a new federal government. The signing took place in Philadelphia, concluding the Constitutional Convention, which had begun on May 25, 1787, with delegates from 12 of the 13 states (all except Rhode Island) in attendance. The Constitution laid out the framework for the nation's federal government and how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) would function. The document would not become binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 states, which occurred on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | 17 September 1787 |
| Location | Pennsylvania State House, Philadelphia |
| Number of delegates present | 41 or 42 |
| Number of delegates who signed | 38 or 39 |
| Age of youngest signer | 26 (Jonathan Dayton) |
| Age of oldest signer | 81 (Benjamin Franklin) |
| Number of states represented | 12 |
| Number of states needed for ratification | 9 |
| First state to ratify | Delaware |
| Date of first ratification | 7 December 1787 |
| Ninth state to ratify | New Hampshire |
| Date of ninth ratification | 21 June 1788 |
| Date of first federal elections | 15 December 1788 |
| Date of new government | 4 March 1789 |
| Date of ratification by all states | 29 May 1790 |
| Date of Bill of Rights ratification | 15 December 1791 |
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What You'll Learn
The signing of the US Constitution
The Constitutional Convention was convened to amend the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates quickly set aside this idea and began drafting a new form of government. The convention was attended by 55 delegates, with 12 of the 13 states being represented. Rhode Island refused to send delegates. The delegates debated and compromised on various issues, including representation and the distribution of power between small and large states. They also addressed basic structural questions about the government, the basis of representation, and the regulation of interstate trade.
The final draft of the Constitution was signed by 39 of the 42 remaining delegates. Several attendees had left before the signing ceremony, and three refused to sign. The youngest signer was Jonathan Dayton, at 26 years old, while Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest. Franklin, despite having reservations about certain parts of the document, strongly endorsed the Constitution and proposed that the delegates sign as individual witnesses to show unanimous consent. This was done to gain the support of critics and create a sense of common accord.
The signing of the Constitution was a significant step towards establishing a stronger, more centralised government for the newly formed nation. However, it did not immediately go into effect. For the Constitution to become binding, it needed to be ratified by at least nine of the 13 states. The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. Several states, including Massachusetts, initially opposed the Constitution due to its lack of protection for certain rights and its failure to reserve undelegated powers to the states. A compromise was reached, leading to the inclusion of amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, which were ratified on December 15, 1791. The ninth state to ratify was New Hampshire on June 21, 1788, and the new Constitution went into effect on March 4, 1789.
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The Constitutional Convention
The convention was attended by 55 out of 74 selected delegates, representing 12 of the 13 states (all except Rhode Island, which refused to send delegates). The delegates elected George Washington of Virginia, a proponent of a stronger national government, to serve as President of the convention. James Madison of Virginia, who had arrived 11 days early, set the convention's agenda with a document titled "Vices of the Political System of the United States," which offered solutions to the weaknesses of the American political system.
The convention debated and ultimately ratified the Constitution of the United States, establishing a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting foreign relations. The new constitution divided federal authority between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, with checks and balances in place to prevent the concentration of power. The delegates also debated several contentious issues, including the role of the executive, slavery, and the insertion of a fugitive slave clause.
The final draft of the Constitution, presented on September 12, contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. On September 17, 1787, 39 delegates endorsed and signed the Constitution, marking the conclusion of the four-month-long convention. The Constitution was then submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City within three days of its signing. The signing of the Constitution was not without dissent, as several delegates left before the ceremony, and three others refused to sign. Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer at 81, summed up the sentiments of those who did sign, acknowledging imperfections but accepting the Constitution as the best option.
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Ratification by the states
The signing of the United States Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, marking the end of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The Constitution was signed by 39 of the 41 delegates present, including George Washington, who was elected as the Convention's president.
The Constitution required ratification by nine of the 13 states to come into effect. The process of ratification by the states was not straightforward, with supporters of the Constitution facing opposition from those who believed it did not adequately protect the rights of states or guarantee basic political freedoms.
The Delaware legislature was the first to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, with a unanimous vote of 30-0. This was followed by four other states—Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut—who ratified the document in quick succession. However, several states, including Massachusetts, were hesitant to ratify due to concerns over the lack of protection for certain rights and the centralization of power.
To address these concerns, a compromise was reached in February 1788, known as the Massachusetts Compromise. It was agreed that amendments would be proposed immediately to address the issues raised by the opposing states. This compromise led to the ratification of the Constitution by Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina.
On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the document, allowing the Constitution to come into effect. The remaining states gradually followed suit, with Rhode Island being the last to approve the Constitution on May 29, 1790.
The process of ratification by the states was a critical step in the implementation of the United States Constitution, ensuring that the document had the necessary support and consensus to form the foundation of the nation's government.
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The Articles of Confederation
The Dickinson Draft of the Articles of Confederation named the confederation "the United States of America." The document consists of six sheets of parchment stitched together, with the last sheet bearing the signatures of delegates from all 13 states. This "first constitution of the United States" established a league of friendship for the 13 sovereign and independent states. Each state retained "every Power... which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States." The Articles of Confederation also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population – each state held one vote in Congress. Ratification by all 13 states was necessary to set the Confederation into motion.
The final draft of the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union was completed on November 15, 1777, and was submitted to the states for ratification in late November 1777. The first state to ratify was Virginia on December 16, 1777, and by February 1779, 12 states had ratified the Articles. Maryland was the last state to ratify the Articles on February 2, 1781, and Congress was informed of Maryland's assent on March 1, officially proclaiming the Articles of Confederation to be the law of the land.
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The Bill of Rights
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The document would not become binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 states.
The amendments of the Bill of Rights add to the Constitution specific guarantees of personal freedoms, such as freedom of speech, the right to publish, practice religion, possess firearms, and assemble. They also include explicit declarations that all powers not specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved to the states or the people.
On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed 12 amendments to the Constitution. Ten of the proposed 12 amendments were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures on December 15, 1791. The ratified amendments constitute the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, or the US Bill of Rights.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787.
The US Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, at the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall.
39 of the 41 or 42 delegates present signed the US Constitution. Some sources state that 38 delegates signed the document.
The document was ratified by nine of the 13 states, with Delaware being the first state to do so on December 7, 1787. The ninth state, New Hampshire, ratified the document on June 21, 1788, and the new Constitution went into effect on March 4, 1789.
