Isabella Carter
The US Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution, was drafted in 1787. While the standard language of the document is English, German and Dutch versions were also printed and distributed to residents of Pennsylvania and New York. These translations were created to ensure that German and Dutch speakers in these states could understand the Constitution during the pitched public debate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of languages used | 2 |
| The two languages | German and Dutch |
| Year of translation | 1787 and 1788 |
| Translators | Lambertus de Ronde (Dutch), Unknown (German) |
| Printers | Michael Billmeyer (German), Charles Webster (Dutch) |
| States that commissioned translations | Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland |
| Reason for translation | 37% of Pennsylvania's population was German in origin; pro-Federalist groups in New York wanted residents to have access to the Constitution |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was translated into German and Dutch
The German translation was printed in Pennsylvania and Maryland. In Pennsylvania, 3,000 copies were printed in English, and 1,500 in German, to be distributed throughout the state. In Maryland, the state government authorized a German translation of the Proceedings of the Constitutional Convention in November 1787, with 300 copies to be distributed in Frederick, Washington, and Baltimore counties. The German translation was also printed in New York, with 1,500 copies distributed to residents.
The Dutch translation was printed in New York, where a significant number of residents spoke Dutch. The translation was commissioned by a pro-Federalist group, who wanted Dutch speakers in the Albany area to have access to the Constitution during the 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 Dutch translation was also printed in Pennsylvania, though it is unclear how many copies were made or distributed.
The German and Dutch translations of the US Constitution provide valuable insights into the original public meaning of the document. They reflect the interpretive choices of the translators and how the translations would have been understood by German and Dutch speakers. These translations also highlight the diverse linguistic landscape of the United States at the time of its founding, and the efforts made to ensure that the Constitution was accessible to all.
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The German translation was printed in Pennsylvania and Maryland
The US Constitution was originally written in English, but German and Dutch translations were also printed in Pennsylvania and Maryland. The German translation was printed in Pennsylvania, where about a third of the population 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, to be distributed to the public. The German-language version was printed by Michael Billmeyer, but the translator was not named.
In Maryland, the state government authorized a German translation of the Proceedings of the Constitutional Convention in November 1787. This translation was published by Matthias Bartgis of Frederick. The resolution, as voted upon by the House of Delegates, ordered that:
> "the printer in Frederick Town be directed to translate into the German language the proceedings of the committee on Federal constitution and resolves of the general assembly thereon, to be distributed, and print 300 copies, said copies to be equally distributed in Frederick, Washington and Baltimore counties."
The German translations in both Pennsylvania and Maryland were part of an effort to reach non-English speakers during the debate and ratification process of the Constitution. The differences in translation also offer a unique perspective on how certain concepts were presented to German speakers, which varied from the English version. For example, amendments to the Constitution were called "improvements" in the German translation.
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The Dutch translation was printed in New York
The US Constitution was written in English and is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in the world. However, in 1787, the Founding Fathers proposed a new Constitution that led to some residents of Pennsylvania and New York being given versions of the Constitution in German and Dutch. The Dutch translation was printed in 1788 in Albany, New York, by Charles Webster, who owned the Albany Gazette and Albany Journal. The translation was done by a minister, Rev. Lambertus de Ronde, and was intended to promote support for ratification among the Dutch-speaking residents of New York.
The Dutch translation was created at the request of pro-Federalist groups who wanted residents in the Albany area, who spoke Dutch, to have access to the Constitution during the pitched public debate in New York state. 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.
The German and Dutch translations of the US Constitution provide evidence of the original public meaning of the document, as reflected in the translators' interpretive choices and how the translations would have been understood by Dutch and German speakers. For example, the German translation uses a word to define "commerce" that indicates "the larger scope of actions and interactions of persons involved in business". The Dutch version, on the other hand, defines commerce as activities among merchants.
The translations also offer a unique look at how certain concepts were presented differently to Dutch and German speakers compared to the English version. For instance, the term "high crimes and misdemeanors" in the Impeachment Clause has different meanings in the Dutch and German translations. The word "misdemeanors" is translated to "misconduct" or "misdeeds". In addition, the German translation refers to amendments to the Constitution as "improvements", while the Dutch version considers felonies to be "crimes worthy of death", differing from the German translation, which considers felonies to be serious crimes.
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The German translation was published in 1787
The US Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. The drafting of the Constitution, often referred to as its framing, was completed at the Constitutional Convention, which assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The German translation of the US Constitution was published in 1787, one week after the Constitutional Convention approved the document. The Pennsylvania Assembly ordered 3,000 versions printed in English and 1,500 in German, which were then distributed to the public. At the time, about 37% of Pennsylvania's population was of German origin. The authors stated that Michael Billmeyer was hired to print the German-language version, but the translator wasn't named.
The German translation of the US Constitution provides valuable insights into the original public meaning of the document and how it was understood by German speakers. The translators' interpretive choices, such as translating amendments as "improvements," offer a unique perspective on the Constitution's intent. Additionally, the German translation of the Commerce Clause in Article 1, Section 8, uses a broader definition of "commerce," indicating the scope of actions and interactions of persons involved in business.
The German version of the US Constitution also differed in its translation of certain key terms. For example, the word "misdemeanors" in the Impeachment Clause was translated as "misconduct" or "misdeeds," and the word "trial" was translated as "interrogation." These differences in translation can have significant implications for the interpretation of the Constitution and the powers of Congress.
The German translation of the US Constitution played a crucial role in the adoption and ratification process, ensuring that German-speaking residents of Pennsylvania and other states could understand and debate the founding document. It is a reminder that the United States has always been a diverse nation with multiple languages and cultures.
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The Dutch translation was published in 1788
The US Constitution was written in English and approved at a national convention in 1787. However, before it could become national law, it had to be ratified or certified by nine of the original 13 states. This led to fierce political battles at the state level in 1787 and 1788. In this contentious political environment, the US Constitution was translated into Dutch and published in 1788.
The Dutch translation was created by Reverend Lambertus de Ronde, a Dutch Reformed minister living near Albany, New York. De Ronde was a respected elder minister who struggled to learn English. He was supported by the Albany Federalist Party, and his translation was intended to promote support for ratification among the Dutch-speaking residents of New York. It may have influenced older men in the state, helping to secure New York for the Union and Constitution.
De Ronde's translation has been described as having peculiar interpretations of the text. For instance, he interpreted the Commerce Clause narrowly to refer only to merchants, not common people trading across state lines. He also interpreted the Progress Clause "for limited times" as "voor bepaalde tyden" (a certain time), suggesting a finite period.
The Dutch translation, along with a German translation produced around the same time, provides insight into how early Americans may have understood the words of one of their founding documents. These translations offer a unique perspective on how certain concepts were presented to Dutch and German speakers, as they differ from the standard English-language Constitution circulated in the late 1700s.
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Frequently asked questions
English and German.
The US Constitution was originally written in English. However, German and Dutch translations were provided to residents of Pennsylvania and New York as the adoption of the founding document was publicly debated.
The German translation was published by Matthias Bartgis of Frederick in Maryland, and by Michael Billmeyer in Pennsylvania. The translator of the Pennsylvania German version is unknown.
The Dutch version was translated by a minister, Lambertus de Ronde, and printed by Charles Webster, owner of the Albany Gazette and Albany Journal.
