Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, when 39 delegates endorsed the constitution at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, marking the end of the Constitutional Convention. The Constitutional Convention was assembled to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was the first constitution of the United States, but ultimately resulted in the proposal and creation of a new form of government. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the Constitution was completed | 17th September 1787 |
| Date the Constitution was ratified | 29th May 1790 |
| Date the Bill of Rights was ratified | End of 1791 |
| Date the location of the capital was decided | 16th July 1790 |
| Date the first federal elections were held | 15th December 1788 to 10th January 1789 |
| Date the new government was set to begin | 4th March 1789 |
| Date the Constitution was first proposed | 25th May 1787 |
| Location where the Constitution was written and signed | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 39 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The drafting of the Constitution, also referred to as its framing, resulted in a new form of government. The Constitution introduced a powerful central government, dividing power between the states and the federal government. It established a system of checks and balances, separating the powers of government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The issue of congressional representation was a major point of contention during the Convention. A compromise was reached, with each state receiving one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. Another contentious issue was slavery, which was temporarily resolved by allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808 and counting enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person.
On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39 signatures. The signing took place in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. Within three days, the Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City, then the nation's temporary capital.
The Constitution then underwent a ratification process, as outlined in Article VII, requiring ratification by nine of the 13 states. Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, and New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify on June 21, 1788. The Confederation Congress set March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating the new government under the Constitution.
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39 delegates endorsed the constitution
On September 17, 1787, the United States Constitution was finalized and signed by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. This day marked the culmination of a four-month-long convention, where delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island declined to participate) gathered to revise the existing Articles of Confederation, but ultimately created a new framework of government.
The 39 signatories to the Constitution included George Washington, who presided over the convention, and other notable figures such as Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Rutledge. These men represented a diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives, and their collaboration resulted in a document that has endured as the supreme law of the land.
The signing of the Constitution was a significant moment in the nation's history, as it established a new system of government based on federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances. The document replaced the weak and ineffective Articles of Confederation, which had been in place since 1781 and had failed to provide an effective central government for the young nation.
Among the 39 signatories, there were large and small state representatives, slaveholders and non-slaveholders, and those with varying economic interests. Despite their differences, these men came together to craft a compromise that balanced state and federal powers, protected individual liberties, and created a durable framework for a nation that would eventually expand across a continent.
The endorsement of the Constitution by these 39 delegates was a pivotal moment, but it did not immediately guarantee the document's success. For the Constitution to take effect, it had to be ratified by at least nine of the thirteen states. A vigorous debate ensued across the country, leading to the emergence of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, who advocated for and against ratification, respectively. Eventually, the necessary nine states ratified the Constitution, and it officially went into effect on March 4, 1789.
The signatures of these 39 delegates on September 17, 1787, represent more than just an endorsement of the document they had crafted. It was a commitment to the principles of democracy, representative government, and the rule of law. Their actions on that day continue to shape the political and social fabric of the United States, and their legacy endures in the Constitution they left behind.
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The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia
The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention, assembled in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, and continued until September 17 of the same year. The convention was held in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. This was the same location where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
The convention was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was the first constitution of the United States. However, the delegates soon decided to completely redesign the government, creating a powerful central government. The delegates represented diverse interests and views, and they crafted compromises to accommodate these differences. One of the most contentious issues was congressional representation, with delegates debating whether it should be based on population or divided equally among the states. A compromise was reached, giving each state one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. They also agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person and to allow the slave trade to continue until 1808.
The Constitutional Convention was attended by 39 delegates, who signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787. This closing endorsement included a declaration that their work had been successfully completed, along with the delegates' signatures. The language of the concluding endorsement was intentionally ambiguous, aiming to win over the votes of dissenting delegates. The Constitution was then submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City, the nation's temporary capital, within three days of its signing.
The process of ratifying the Constitution began, with the proposal forwarded to the thirteen states. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, and the Confederation Congress established March 4, 1789, as the date for the new government to begin operating under the Constitution. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
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The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, marking the end of the Constitutional Convention, which had begun in Philadelphia in May of the same year. The signing of the document was an extraordinary achievement, as the delegates had been tasked with revising the existing government, but instead came up with a completely new form of government.
The Constitution was then sent to the states for ratification, and by the terms of the document, it would become binding once nine of the thirteen colonies had ratified it. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, doing so unanimously on December 7, 1787. This admission earned Delaware the nickname "The First State."
Delaware's early and unanimous ratification of the Constitution was significant. The state sent five delegates to the Constitutional Convention, who all signed the document. This was a surprising show of support, as Delaware was a small state, and only Pennsylvania had more signers (eight) among the twelve colonies that signed. Delaware's delegates also contributed to the Convention with a proposal addressing small versus large state representation.
Following Delaware's ratification, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut also ratified the Constitution. However, some states voiced opposition to the document on the grounds that it did not provide adequate protection for certain rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. To address these concerns, the Massachusetts Compromise of February 1788 stipulated that amendments—what became the Bill of Rights—would be immediately proposed.
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The Constitution was ratified by all states by May 29, 1790
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, when 39 delegates endorsed the document. The signing occurred at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the same location where the Declaration of Independence was signed. The drafting of the Constitution, often referred to as its framing, took place between May 25 and September 17, 1787. Delegates to the convention were chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states; Rhode Island refused to send delegates.
The Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City within three days of its signing. On September 28, members of Congress voted unanimously to forward the proposal to the 13 states for their ratification. The state legislatures were tasked with organizing "Federal Conventions" to ratify the document. However, the ratification process bypassed the state legislatures due to concerns that their members would be reluctant to give up power to a national government. Instead, special ratifying conventions were held in each state.
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. Several states opposed the Constitution on the grounds that it did not adequately protect certain rights, including freedom of speech, religion, and the press. To address these concerns, the Massachusetts Compromise was reached in February 1788, stipulating that amendments—what became the Bill of Rights—would be immediately proposed.
On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, reaching the two-thirds majority required for the enactment of the new government. The Confederation Congress established March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating under the new government. However, it was not until May 29, 1790, that the Constitution was ratified by all states, with Rhode Island being the last state to approve the document. The Bill of Rights was ratified and became part of the Constitution by the end of the following year.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was completed on September 17, 1787.
This date marks the day the Constitution was signed by 39 delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
The Constitutional Convention was a gathering of delegates from 12 of the 13 original states (Rhode Island did not send delegates). The convention was convened to amend the Articles of Confederation, but ultimately led to the creation of a new form of government.
The Constitution was signed in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, in Philadelphia.
The Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City, the nation's temporary capital, within three days of its signing. It then had to go through a ratification process, with each state holding a "Federal Convention".
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