Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the Constitution occurred after a four-month-long convention, during which delegates debated and crafted the document that would form the framework for the nation's federal government and outline the functions of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Of the 42 delegates present at the convention, 39 signed the Constitution, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which did not send delegates). The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, while the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who delivered a speech strongly endorsing the Constitution. Now, the question arises: which colony was the third to sign this significant document?
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention spent three hot summer months debating the new Constitution in secret sessions. They grappled with questions such as how much power to grant the central government, state representation in Congress, and the election of representatives. The resulting document laid out the framework for the nation's federal government, outlining the functions of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The signers of the Constitution represented a diverse cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with individuals having experience in local, colonial, or state government. Virtually all of them had participated in the American Revolution, and at least 29 had served in the Continental forces, mostly in command positions. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, while the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who delivered an address strongly endorsing the Constitution.
The signing of the Constitution was a significant step towards forming a stronger, more centralized government for the newly independent nation. However, it is important to note that the Constitution was still a work in progress, and amendments would continue to be introduced and ratified in the years to come. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by several other states, with Rhode Island being the last state to approve the document on May 29, 1790.
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39 delegates signed the Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states, endorsed the Constitution. Rhode Island was the only state that refused to send delegates.
The 39 signatories to the US Constitution were a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, and state governments. Virtually all of them had taken part in the American Revolution, with at least 29 serving in the Continental forces, most of them in positions of command. Additionally, seven of the signatories had signed the Declaration of Independence.
The delegates' endorsement included a declaration that their work had been successfully completed and that they subscribed to the final document. It also included a statement pronouncing the document's adoption by the states present, along with the signatures of those endorsing it. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note to verify four amendments made by hand to the final document and signed it to authenticate its validity.
The 39 delegates whose names were inscribed upon the proposed constitution included John Dickinson, who, due to illness, authorised George Read to sign on his behalf. The oldest signer was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who summed up the sentiments of those who did sign, stating:
> There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. I will accept the Constitution, because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best.
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Benjamin Franklin was the oldest signer at 81
Benjamin Franklin, the son of a tallow chandler, soaper, and candlemaker, was born in 1706 in Northamptonshire, England. He was the eighth child of Josiah Franklin and his second wife, Abiah Folger. Franklin was a man of many talents and careers, including being a printer, storekeeper, publisher, scientist, public official, philosopher, diplomat, and writer. He was also known for his raunchy humour and was a notorious womanizer.
Franklin was the oldest signer of the United States Constitution at 81 years old. The signing took place on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A total of 39 delegates representing 12 states endorsed the Constitution, which was created during a four-month-long convention. Franklin, despite being crippled by gout, played an important role at the convention. He acted as a host, calmed passions, proposed compromises, and urged the delegates to sign the final document.
In addition to being a signer of the Constitution, Franklin was also one of the drafters and signers of the United States Declaration of Independence. He was the first signer of the Constitution to pass away, in April 1790, just three years after the signing. Franklin's wisdom and experience were invaluable to the creation of the nation's federal government and the delineation of the functions of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The United States Constitution was formed after the Continental Congress in 1774, which was composed of delegates from 12 colonies. The delegates adopted a statement of rights and principles, many of which were later incorporated into the Declaration of Independence and the Federal Constitution. Independence from Great Britain was declared on July 4, 1776, and the Articles of Confederation were approved in 1778. The Constitution laid the framework for the federal government and served as an authentication of the agreement between the states.
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26-year-old Jonathan Dayton was the youngest signer
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 55 delegates who attended the convention, 39 signed the Constitution. Jonathan Dayton, at 26, was the youngest signer, while Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest.
Jonathan Dayton (October 16, 1760 – October 9, 1824) was an American Founding Father and politician from New Jersey. He was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly in 1786–1787 and again in 1790, and served in the New Jersey Legislative Council in 1789. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1791 and later served as its third Speaker from 1795 to 1799. He left the House in 1799 after being elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served one term.
Dayton was a signatory to the Constitution, and at the time of the establishment of Dayton, Ohio, in 1796, he owned 250,000 acres in the Great Miami River basin. He was a prominent Federalist legislator and supported the fiscal policies of Alexander Hamilton. He also helped organize the suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion and supported the Louisiana Purchase.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention represented 12 states, with Rhode Island refusing to send delegates. The signing of the Constitution was the culmination of a four-month-long convention that began on May 25, 1787. The delegates ranged in age from the 26-year-old Dayton to the 81-year-old Franklin, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair. The Syng inkstand, which was used at the signing of the Constitution, had also been used eleven years earlier at the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
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The signing took place at Independence Hall, Philadelphia
The signing of the United States Constitution took place at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 17, 1787. Independence Hall was also where the Declaration of Independence was signed eleven years earlier, in 1776.
The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia, and delegates from 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates) gathered to endorse the Constitution. The delegates spent three hot summer months in secret sessions, debating the new Constitution and crafting compromises. The Syng inkstand, which was used for the signing of the Constitution, was also used for the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The delegates debated and crafted compromises on significant questions, such as how much power the central government should have, how many representatives each state should have in Congress, and how those representatives should be elected. The delegates also discussed the role of the federal government and the protection of rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
The signing ceremony took place in the Assembly Room of Independence Hall, and 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document, with 38 of them signing in person and one delegate signing on behalf of another who was absent. Benjamin Franklin, at 81 years old, was the oldest signer, and Jonathan Dayton, at 26 years old, was the youngest.
The signing of the Constitution marked the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention and the creation of a new form of government for the United States. The document was then carried to Congress in New York by the convention's secretary, William Jackson, who added a note verifying four amendments made by hand.
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Frequently asked questions
The third colony to ratify the Constitution was Georgia.
39 delegates signed the Constitution, including Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer at 81, and Jonathan Dayton, the youngest signer at 26.
The Constitution was created to lay out the framework of the nation's federal government and describe how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) would function.
The signing of the Constitution was a significant event in American history as it established a new form of government and centralized power in the United States, marking its evolution as a nation.
