Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, marking the end of the Constitutional Convention and the beginning of the ratification process. 39 delegates from 12 states endorsed the Constitution, with three delegates declining to sign the document. The Constitution was subsequently ratified by the required nine of the 13 states, with New Hampshire becoming the ninth state to do so on June 21, 1788. This made it the official framework of the US government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the US Constitution was signed | 17 September 1787 |
| Number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 38 or 39 out of 41 |
| First state to ratify the Constitution | Delaware |
| Date of first ratification | 7 December 1787 |
| Ninth state to ratify the Constitution | New Hampshire |
| Date of ninth ratification | 21 June 1788 |
| Date of first federal elections | 15 December 1788 |
| Date the new government was set to begin | 4 March 1789 |
| First President of the US | George Washington |
| First Vice President of the US | John Adams |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
On September 17, 1787, 38 or 39 delegates from 12 states endorsed and signed the Constitution, with the notable exception of Edmund Randolph, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry, who declined to sign the document. The signing took place in the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, and the delegates were grouped by state in strict congressional voting order. George Washington, as president of the convention, signed first, followed by the other delegates. The convention then adjourned at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, concluding three months of intense debates and negotiations.
The ratification process for the Constitution began immediately after the signing, and it proved to be a challenging and contentious campaign. The Federalists, who supported a strong central government, faced opposition from the Anti-Federalists, who were concerned about the concentration of power and the lack of a bill of rights. The Constitution stipulated that it would go into effect once nine of the 13 states ratified it. The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787, and the process continued until New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify on June 21, 1788, or February 28, 1789, officially establishing the Constitution as the framework of the US government.
The US Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, has endured as one of the longest-lived and most influential constitutions in the world. It laid the foundation for the American governmental system and enshrined fundamental principles that continue to shape the nation's laws and political culture. The process of drafting and signing the Constitution was a pivotal moment in American history, reflecting the ideals and compromises that defined the early years of the nation.
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39 delegates endorsed the constitution
The United States Constitution was officially signed on September 17, 1787, when 39 delegates endorsed the constitution. The signing took place in Philadelphia, concluding the Philadelphia Convention that had begun on May 25, 1787. The convention was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which established the first national government of the United States in 1781. However, the delegates ultimately proposed and created a new form of government, outlined in the Constitution.
The 39 delegates who endorsed the Constitution ranged in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin. Franklin, crippled by gout, had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair. Other notable figures among the delegates included Alexander Hamilton of New York, James Wilson and Robert Morris of Pennsylvania, and George Washington, who was unanimously elected president of the convention. John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and John Hancock were among those appointed to the convention but did not attend.
The signing of the Constitution was the culmination of a long and arduous journey toward a stronger, more centralized government for the newly formed nation. The Articles of Confederation had treated the states more like independent, sovereign countries, and it became clear that future stability required a different form of government. The new Constitution expanded the power of the central government while protecting the prerogatives of the states.
The process of ratification was overseen by the delegates, who anticipated that many state politicians would be Antifederalist and opposed to the new Constitution. They stipulated that the Constitution would go into effect as soon as nine of the 13 states ratified it, which occurred on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to do so. The remaining four states could then join the union by ratifying the Constitution.
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The signing took place in Philadelphia
The signing of the United States Constitution took place in Philadelphia, concluding the Constitutional Convention. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with delegates from every state except Rhode Island. The delegates met in the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. The building was also where the Declaration of Independence was drafted and the Articles of Confederation were signed.
The convention was initially intended to revise the existing Articles of Confederation and devise the first system of federal government. However, by mid-June, the delegates had decided to completely redesign the government. They aimed to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington feared that the young country was on the brink of collapse due to issues such as state disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade.
The delegates elected George Washington, a Revolutionary War hero and proponent of a stronger national government, as the president of the convention. Benjamin Franklin made a powerful argument for the new Constitution and a final motion to sign the document. Of the 41 men in the room, 39 signed the document, with 38 delegates signing and George Read signing for the absent John Dickinson. The signing took place on September 17, 1787, and the Constitution came into effect in 1789 after the necessary number of state ratifications.
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The constitution was ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and New Hampshire
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates from 12 states. The signing took place in Philadelphia, marking the end of the Constitutional Convention, which had begun on May 25, 1787.
The Constitution was then put before the states for ratification. The process of ratification was a challenging one, with Anti-Federalists resisting the establishment of a powerful central government. The Federalists, on the other hand, argued that a strong central government was necessary for the nation's stability and future.
The Constitution was ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina, but it was New Hampshire's ratification on June 21, 1788, that brought the Constitution into effect. New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, with the vote passing 57-47. This met the requirement of ratification by two-thirds of the states, or nine out of 13 states, for the Constitution to be officially established.
After New Hampshire's ratification, Congress set dates for the first federal elections and the official implementation of the Constitution. The first presidential election was held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, and the new government under President George Washington and Vice President John Adams began on March 4, 1789.
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The first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789
The United States Constitution was officially signed on September 17, 1787, marking the end of the Constitutional Convention and the beginning of the ratification process. This process was a challenging journey, with fierce debates and compromises, and it took almost three years to complete.
The Constitution was signed by 39 delegates from 12 states, with one delegate, John Dickinson, signing by proxy due to illness. Notably, three delegates, Edmund Randolph, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry, declined to sign the document. The signing took place in Philadelphia, concluding the convention that had begun on May 25, 1787, with the aim of revising the Articles of Confederation.
The ratification process required the approval of nine out of the 13 existing states for the new government to be enacted. This was achieved when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution on June 21, 1788, marking the official framework of the US government. The remaining four states could then join the union by ratifying the Constitution.
Following ratification, Congress scheduled the first federal elections, which were held from Monday, December 15, 1788, to Saturday, January 10, 1789. The nation's first presidential election took place during this period, and George Washington was elected as the first president, with John Adams as the first vice president. The new government was set to commence on March 4, 1789.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was officially signed on September 17, 1787.
39 delegates from 12 states signed the US Constitution.
All states except Rhode Island were represented.
