Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states. Georgia elected six delegates to the convention, but only four went, and only two—Abraham Baldwin and William Few—signed the final document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of delegates sent by Georgia | 4 |
| Names of the two Georgians who signed the U.S. Constitution | Abraham Baldwin and William Few |
| Year of signing the U.S. Constitution | 1787 |
| Date of signing the U.S. Constitution | September 17 |
| Location of signing the U.S. Constitution | Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of delegates representing 12 states | 39 |
| Number of states not represented | 1 (Rhode Island) |
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What You'll Learn
Abraham Baldwin and William Few were the two Georgians who signed the US Constitution
Baldwin was born in 1754 in Connecticut and graduated from Yale in 1772. He moved to Georgia within a year, won legislative approval to practice law, and obtained a grant of land in Wilkes County. In 1785, he sat in the assembly and the Continental Congress. He attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787, sitting on the Committee on Postponed Matters and helping to resolve the large-small state representation crisis. After the convention, he returned to the Continental Congress, serving from 1787 to 1789. He also played a critical role in what came to be known as the "Great Compromise."
Few arrived in Georgia in the mid-1770s after leaving his drought-stricken tobacco farm in Maryland and fleeing political trouble in North Carolina. During the Revolutionary War, he joined the Richmond County regiment and served as a lieutenant colonel. He entered politics and was elected to the Georgia provincial congress in 1776. He served in the Continental Congress from 1780 to 1788 and was appointed as one of six state delegates to the Constitutional Convention. After signing the Constitution, he continued to hold office in the newly formed legislature, serving as one of Georgia's first senators.
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Thirty-nine delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states, endorsed the Constitution.
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Baldwin founded the University of Georgia
Abraham Baldwin, one of the two Georgians who signed the U.S. Constitution, founded the University of Georgia. Baldwin was born in 1754 in Guilford, Connecticut, as the second son of a blacksmith. He attended a local village school before matriculating at Yale, in nearby New Haven, from which he graduated in 1772. Within a year, he moved to Georgia, obtained a grant of land in Wilkes County, and won legislative approval to practice law. In 1785, he sat in the assembly and the Continental Congress. In 1787, he attended the Constitutional Convention, where he played a critical role in what came to be known as the "Great Compromise".
Baldwin's role in the founding of the University of Georgia is particularly notable. He was one of the university's founding trustees in 1785, and he helped to secure its establishment through his efforts in the Georgia legislature. The University of Georgia was established on January 27, 1785, when the Georgia General Assembly passed legislation providing for the creation of the university in order to help educate the people of Georgia. The university was the first state-chartered university in the United States and is today the country's oldest public university.
Baldwin's efforts in advocating for the establishment of the University of Georgia were driven by his strong belief in the importance of education. He recognized that the university would play a crucial role in providing educational opportunities for the people of Georgia and helping to advance the state's intellectual and cultural development. Baldwin's dedication to education was also evident in his personal life, as he took on the responsibility of educating his half-brothers and half-sisters out of his own pocket after his father's death in 1787.
In addition to his role as a founding trustee, Baldwin also contributed to the early development and growth of the University of Georgia. He was actively involved in shaping the university's academic programs and curriculum, ensuring that they met the highest standards of educational excellence. He worked closely with the university's first president, Abraham Baldwin, to recruit distinguished faculty members and establish the university's initial academic offerings. Baldwin's leadership and dedication helped lay the foundation for the University of Georgia's reputation as a leading institution of higher learning in the United States.
Baldwin's legacy at the University of Georgia is honored and remembered through various means. The university's main administration building, the Abraham Baldwin Hall, bears his name and serves as a testament to his contributions. Additionally, the university offers scholarships and awards in his name, recognizing students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and a commitment to service. Baldwin's influence extends beyond the university, as he is also remembered as one of Georgia's founding fathers, with his signature on the U.S. Constitution serving as a lasting testament to his dedication to the state and the nation.
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Few was a lieutenant colonel during the Revolutionary War
During the Revolutionary War, William Few Jr. served as a lieutenant colonel in the Richmond County regiment. Few arrived in Georgia in the mid-1770s after leaving a drought-stricken tobacco farm in Maryland and fleeing political trouble in North Carolina. Few's military success opened the door to political service. He was elected to the Georgia provincial congress in 1776 and served in the assembly in 1777 and 1779. He also sat on the state executive council and held the positions of surveyor-general and Indian commissioner.
In 1786, Few was elected to represent Georgia at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where he lobbied his fellow congressmen to vote in favor of the new U.S. Constitution. The Constitutional Convention, chaired by George Washington, was authorized to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates produced an entirely new system of governing, with three independent branches of government. Few was one of the 39 delegates who signed the final document, also serving as one of Georgia's first senators after signing the Constitution.
Few's military career during the Revolutionary War laid the foundation for his political service. He actively participated in the political and legislative processes, both during and after the war. Few's role as a lieutenant colonel provided him with leadership skills and a platform to pursue a political career. His military success and recognition as a leader likely contributed to his election to various political positions, including the Georgia provincial congress and the assembly.
Few's involvement in the Constitutional Convention and his signature on the U.S. Constitution are significant. As one of Georgia's representatives, he played a crucial role in shaping the new nation's government and political system. Few's signature on the Constitution demonstrates his commitment to the ideals of the founding fathers and his belief in a stronger federal government. His military background and experience in leadership likely influenced his perspective on the need for a unified and effective national government.
In summary, William Few Jr.'s service as a lieutenant colonel during the Revolutionary War paved the way for his political career and his role in shaping the United States Constitution. His military success, leadership skills, and dedication to his country positioned him as a key figure in Georgia's delegation and a signatory to one of the most important documents in American history. Few's story exemplifies the impact of individuals who actively participated in the Revolutionary War and went on to contribute significantly to the nation-building process in the early years of the United States.
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Both men were senators for Georgia
Abraham Baldwin and William Few Jr. were the two Georgians who signed the U.S. Constitution. They were also both senators for Georgia.
Baldwin was the founder of the University of Georgia and played a critical role in what came to be known as the "Great Compromise". Few arrived in Georgia in the mid-1770s after leaving a tobacco farm in Maryland and fleeing political trouble in North Carolina. During the Revolutionary War, he joined the Richmond County regiment and served as a lieutenant colonel.
Baldwin and Few were among the four delegates Georgia sent to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. The convention was chaired by George Washington and tasked with revising the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates went beyond their mandate and created an entirely new system of governing, with three independent branches of government.
After signing the Constitution, both Baldwin and Few continued to hold office. Few served as one of Georgia's first senators, while Baldwin served as a U.S. Representative for Georgia from 1789 to 1799.
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The US Constitution was signed in 1787
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the document marked the culmination of four fractious months of debate and compromise, resulting in an entirely new system of governing. The Constitutional Convention, chaired by George Washington, saw 55 delegates from 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates) come together to endorse the Constitution. This new governing document established three independent branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
Among the 39 delegates who signed the Constitution, two were from Georgia: Abraham Baldwin and William Few. Baldwin, born in 1754 in Connecticut, played a critical role in what became known as the "Great Compromise." He sat on the Committee on Postponed Matters and helped resolve the large-state and small-state representation crisis. Baldwin's influence extended beyond the Constitutional Convention, as he was also a founder of the University of Georgia.
William Few, on the other hand, arrived in Georgia in the mid-1770s, leaving behind political troubles in North Carolina and a drought-stricken tobacco farm in Maryland. During the Revolutionary War, Few served as a lieutenant colonel in the Richmond County regiment. His military success paved the way for his entry into politics. Few was elected to represent Georgia at the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where he advocated for the adoption of the new U.S. Constitution. After signing the Constitution, he continued his political career, serving as one of Georgia's first senators and later as a federal judge for the Georgia circuit.
The signatures of these Georgian delegates, along with those of their counterparts from other states, carried significant weight. Virtually all of the signers had participated in the American Revolution, with seven having signed the Declaration of Independence and thirty having served in the military. Their endorsement of the Constitution signified their commitment to establishing a stronger federal government and shaping the political system that continues to endure and evolve in the United States today.
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Frequently asked questions
Abraham Baldwin and William Few were the two Georgians who signed the U.S. Constitution.
Abraham Baldwin was born in 1754 in Guilford, Connecticut. He was the second son of a blacksmith and had 11 siblings. He graduated from Yale in 1772 and moved to Georgia a year later. He sat in the assembly and the Continental Congress in 1785 and attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He played a critical role in what came to be known as the "Great Compromise".
William Few Jr. arrived in Georgia in the mid-1770s after abandoning a tobacco farm in Maryland and fleeing political trouble in North Carolina. During the Revolutionary War, he joined the Richmond County regiment and served as a lieutenant colonel. He entered politics and was elected to the Georgia provincial congress in 1776. He was one of six state delegates to the Constitutional Convention.
The U.S. Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
