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The United States Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force, was written in 1787 at the Philadelphia Convention, also known as the Constitutional Convention. The document was signed on September 17, 1787, and was ratified through a series of state conventions held in 1787 and 1788. The Constitution has served as the supreme law of the United States since 1789 and has been amended twenty-seven times.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time period | May 1787 to September 1787 |
| Location | Philadelphia |
| Delegates | 39 |
| Signed | 17th September, 1787 |
| Published | 19th September, 1787 |
| Ratified | 1787-1788 |
| Amendments | 27 |
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What You'll Learn
The 1787 Philadelphia Convention
The convention was held in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, the same place where the Declaration of Independence had been signed in 1776. The building was guarded, and the street outside was freshly spread with dirt to muffle the sound of passing carriages and carts. General George Washington, a key figure in the American Revolution, was unanimously elected president of the convention.
The delegates to the convention represented a wide range of interests and views, and their task was not an easy one. The young nation had been plagued by disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear it apart. The existing Articles of Confederation had given the Confederation Congress rule-making and funding powers, but it lacked enforcement powers and the ability to regulate commerce or print money.
A Committee of Detail, comprising Nathaniel Gorham of Massachusetts, John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, James Wilson, and Oliver Ellsworth, was appointed to draft a constitution. During their 10-day adjournment, the other delegates took a much-needed break. The Committee of Detail's work was then presented to a Committee of Style and Arrangement, led by Gouverneur Morris, who is considered the chief architect of the Constitution. The final version of the Constitution was presented to the convention on September 12, and the delegates meticulously reviewed each section.
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, marking a significant step towards its ratification and implementation. It was then ratified through a series of state conventions held in 1787 and 1788, with ratification by 9 of the 13 states enacting the new government. The document increased Congressional powers, provided for the abolition of the slave trade, and established a framework for a more unified and robust central government. The United States Constitution has served as the supreme law of the land since it took effect in 1789 and has been amended twenty-seven times to adapt to the nation's evolving needs.
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The Constitutional Convention
The convention was held during a period of uncertainty and concern for the young nation. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared that the country was on the brink of collapse due to the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which served as the country's first constitution. The Articles gave the Confederation Congress rule-making and funding powers but lacked enforcement powers and the ability to regulate commerce or print money. Disputes among the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart.
Alexander Hamilton played a key role in convincing Congress to organize the Constitutional Convention, which assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787. The delegates appointed a Committee of Detail, chaired by Nathaniel Gorham of Massachusetts, to draft a constitution. The committee also included John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, James Wilson, and Oliver Ellsworth. During a 10-day adjournment, the committee worked on a draft, and on September 8, they presented the Constitution to the convention. Gouverneur Morris, the chief architect, later wrote, "That Instrument was written by the Fingers which wrote this letter."
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The Committee of Detail
The United States Constitution was written in the late 18th century, a few years after the Revolutionary War. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, and the final document was adopted in 1789.
The committee's draft, which included an Electoral College, was influenced by models of Classical Antiquity and the British governmental tradition of mixed government. The Declaration of Independence also served as a significant guide, with its ideals of self-government and fundamental human rights. The writings of European political philosophers such as Montesquieu and John Locke were also influential in shaping their vision of a balanced government with checks and balances to serve the long-term interests of the people of an independent nation.
The two preliminary drafts that survive, along with the text of the Constitution submitted to the convention, were written by either Wilson or Randolph. The final document of the Constitution, which was ratified by 9 of the 13 states, closely resembled the draft prepared by the Committee of Detail, indicating the significant role they played in shaping the foundational document of the United States.
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The Committee of Style and Arrangement
The United States Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force, was drafted in 1787. The Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention authored the Constitution as the framework for the United States government.
Morris made a series of subtle changes to the draft that advanced his constitutional vision. For example, he changed the opening line of the Preamble from "We the People of the States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts," etc., to "We, the People of the United States," conveying the unity and equality of the states. He also added all the Preamble's goals, emphasizing the ideals of self-government and fundamental human rights.
The committee referenced state constitutions, the Articles of Confederation, plans submitted to the convention, and other materials such as the writings of European political philosophers like Montesquieu and John Locke. They aimed to create a balanced government of checks and balances to serve the long-term interests of the people of an independent nation.
The committee's draft was adopted with few revisions and little debate. However, questions have been raised about whether Morris covertly made changes to advance his own agenda. Legal scholars and historians have debated this possibility, and the Supreme Court has concluded that any substantive changes made by the committee should be disregarded. Nonetheless, Morris's contributions were significant, and he played a crucial role in shaping the final Constitution.
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Ratification by the states
The US Constitution was written in 1787, when the Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to revise the Articles of Confederation. The Constitutional Convention concluded on September 17, 1787, with the signing of the new US Constitution by 38 or 39 of the 41 or 42 delegates present.
The US Constitution was ratified by the states between 1787 and 1791. The ratification process began on September 17, 1787, the day the Frame of Government drafted by the convention's delegates was signed. Under Article VII, it was agreed that the document would not be binding until its ratification by nine of the thirteen existing states.
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, officially ending government under the Articles of Confederation. This meant that the Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America.
The remaining states to ratify the Constitution were Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina, New York, and finally, Rhode Island on May 29, 1790. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until this date.
Ten of the twelve amendments known as the Bill of Rights were ratified on December 15, 1791. The Bill of Rights was not ratified to become part of the Constitution until the end of 1791.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written in 1787.
The US Constitution was written over four months, from May 1787 to September 1787.
The US Constitution was written in Philadelphia, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall.
The US Constitution was written by a Committee of Detail, comprising Nathaniel Gorham of Massachusetts, John Rutledge, Edmund Randolph, James Wilson, and Oliver Ellsworth. Gouverneur Morris was the chief architect.
