The Constitution's Cursive: Unraveling The Script's Secrets

The United States Constitution is one of the most important documents in American history, and its handwritten form is still available for viewing at the National Archives in the Rotunda. The document was engrossed by Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and was completed in a single day on September 16, 1787. Shallus' penmanship is believed to have been executed with a goose quill and iron gall ink, and the style of cursive used is called Roundhand.

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The US Constitution was written in Roundhand

The US Constitution is one of the most important documents in American history. It was penned by Jacob Shallus, the Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, in 1787. Shallus completed the document in a single day, an impressive feat considering the Constitution's length of around 4,000 words. Shallus received $30 for his work, a considerable sum at the time.

The Constitution was written on four pieces of animal skin using iron gall ink and a quill, likely made from a goose. The style of handwriting used is known as "Roundhand," which is characterised by its quintessential line variance. This style of handwriting would be difficult to replicate with most contemporary non-flexible writing instruments.

The choice to use a quill for writing the Constitution is significant. Quill pens, with their tendency to drip ink, encouraged the development of cursive writing, where the pen is not lifted often from the paper. The idiosyncrasies of the quill are evident in the writing it produces, contributing to the unique character of the Constitution's script.

The handwritten Constitution of the United States is preserved behind glass in the National Archives' upper level, alongside the subsequent Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. Visitors can admire not only the content of these documents but also the craftsmanship and style of the handwriting. The bold "We the People" at the top of the Constitution is a notable feature.

While James Madison is credited as the writer of the Constitution, it was Shallus' penmanship that brought the words to life on parchment. Madison played a crucial role as one of the key note-takers, drafters, and influential figures in the committee. However, the physical task of inscribing the final document went to Shallus, whose exceptional handwriting skills ensured a well-written and legible outcome.

Jacob Shallus was the scribe

The United States Constitution was engrossed by Jacob Shallus, the Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Shallus was born in 1750 and died in 1796, just six years after all 13 states fully ratified the Constitution. Shallus' exceptional handwriting can be seen in several other important documents, including the Resolution of the Constitutional Convention (also known as the transmittal page of the Constitution) and the State Constitution of Pennsylvania, which he helped re-author in 1790.

Shallus was paid $30 for his work on the US Constitution, which was a considerable amount at the time. This payment was for about 40 hours of work, during which Shallus created an accurate transcription of the draft Constitution. The final document was written on four pieces of animal skin in iron gall ink, using a quill, likely made from a goose. The Constitution is written in "Roundhand", a style that is difficult to replicate with most contemporary non-flexible writing instruments.

The scribe of the US Constitution was not one of the framers of the document or even one of the key delegates, such as James Madison, who is often credited as the writer of the Constitution. Instead, Shallus was responsible for transcribing the words chosen by the delegates and putting them on parchment. This distinction between "writing" and "scribing" is important when understanding the process of creating the Constitution. While Madison played a significant role in drafting and influencing the content of the Constitution, it was Shallus' penmanship that brought the document to life.

It is worth noting that Shallus' identity as the scribe of the Constitution was not always known. There was little official documentation from the period, and Shallus' name does not appear on the document itself. It was not until an investigation in 1937 by historian John Clement Fitzpatrick that Shallus was revealed as the scribe, 150 years after the Constitution was written.

James Madison was the writer

The US Constitution is the fundamental framework of America's federal system of government. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Constitution separates the powers of the federal government into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I); the executive, consisting of the president and subordinate officers (Article II); and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III).

James Madison is known as the "Father of the Constitution" because of his great contributions to the formation of the new government. Madison was one of the key note-takers, drafters, and influential figures in the committee that put the final touches to the Constitution together. He is quoted as saying that he barely left any sessions for more than a few minutes, while 19 of the 74 delegates invited never attended any. Without his work, as well as the text from Gouverneur Morris, there would have been nothing to endorse. Madison also wrote the first ten amendments to the Constitution, which make up the Bill of Rights. These amendments list specific prohibitions on governmental power in response to calls from several states for greater constitutional protection for individual liberties.

However, it was not Madison who physically wrote out the clauses of the Constitution. That duty went to Jacob Shallus, Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Shallus completed the piece in his exceptional handwriting in just a single day on September 16, 1787, an impressive achievement for a handwritten work of around 4,000 words. Shallus received $30 for his work, which was a considerable amount at the time. The document was written on four pieces of animal skin in iron gall ink, likely using a goose quill. The style of handwriting used is known as "Roundhand".

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It was written on four pieces of animal skin

The United States Constitution was penned on four pieces of animal skin, or parchment, by Jacob Shallus, the Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Shallus was paid $30 for his work, a considerable sum at the time, which would be worth around $900 today. Shallus' handwriting is thought to have been exceptional, and he is believed to have completed the document in a single day on 16 September 1787. The document contains around 4,000 words, and each sheet of parchment measures 28 by 23 inches.

Shallus used iron gall ink and a quill, likely made from a goose, to write the Constitution. The style of handwriting used is known as "Roundhand", which is characterised by its quintessential line variance. This style of handwriting is well-suited to the use of a quill, which has certain idiosyncrasies that are evident in the writing it produces.

The Constitution is a highly important document in American history, and it is one of the three Charters of Freedom, along with the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. The document is kept behind glass in the upper level of the National Archives in the Rotunda, where it can be viewed by the public.

While James Madison is often credited as the writer of the Constitution, his role was primarily that of a note-taker and drafter. Madison was one of the key influential figures in the committee that put the final touches on the document, along with Gouverneur Morris. However, the physical task of writing out the clauses fell to Shallus, who was chosen for his exceptional penmanship.

It was completed in a single day

The United States Constitution was engrossed by Jacob Shallus, the Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Shallus completed the document in a single day, on September 16, 1787. This is an impressive feat, considering the document is approximately 4,000 words long and written on four large sheets of animal skin parchment. Shallus likely used a goose quill to write, and the style of handwriting has been identified as "Roundhand," known for its quintessential line variance.

The choice to use a clerk's handwriting for the final document was intentional. While James Madison is credited with writing the US Constitution and played a significant role as a note-taker, drafter, and influential figure, his handwriting skills were not up to par. The delegates wanted the Constitution to be well-written and legible, hence their decision to enlist Shallus's exceptional penmanship.

Shallus' work on the Constitution is a remarkable achievement, not only for its speed but also for the consistent quality of his handwriting across the four sheets of parchment. His penmanship has stood the test of time, and the original document can still be admired today in the National Archives in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom.

The use of a quill pen and parchment paper is significant in the development of cursive handwriting. The drippy ink used with quill pens discouraged pen lifting, which led to the creation of cursive writing. This style of writing was taught to farmers and merchants through copybooks, such as George Bickham's book on writing in a "round" hand. While the specific variety of Roundhand used by Shallus may have predated more modern styles like Spencerian and Palmer, it remains an impressive example of early-American penmanship.

The Constitution's completion in a single day by Jacob Shallus is a testament to his skill and dedication. His work ensured that the carefully chosen words of the founding fathers were presented in a legible and aesthetically pleasing manner, contributing to the significance and impact of this important historical document.

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