Simone Lawson
The Constitution of the United States, the supreme law of the United States of America, was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified on June 21, 1788. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789, and established a federal government with three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The Constitution was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787 and was the result of discussion, debate, and compromise.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year the Constitution was drafted | 1787 |
| Year the Constitution was ratified | 1788 |
| Year the Constitution was ratified by all states | 1790 |
| Year the Bill of Rights was ratified | 1791 |
| Number of pages in the document | 4 |
| Number of articles | 7 |
| Number of delegates who signed the document | 38-39 |
| Number of total delegates | 41 |
| Number of states needed for ratification | 9 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed in 1787
The process leading up to the signing of the Constitution was a lengthy and deliberative one. It began with a call for a constitutional convention to address concerns about the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Representatives from all 13 states convened in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, with General George Washington unanimously elected as the president of the convention. The delegates engaged in passionate and thoughtful debates, ultimately crafting a powerful central government that addressed the challenges facing the young nation.
The final document was signed by 38 out of 41 delegates present on September 17, 1787, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. The signing of the Constitution marked a significant shift towards a stronger, more centralized government. It established a federal government divided into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial, with a system of checks and balances to ensure no branch held too much power.
The Constitution faced opposition from Anti-Federalists, who argued it created a powerful central government and lacked a bill of rights. Despite this, the ratification process began, with Delaware becoming the first state to ratify on December 7, 1787. The document required ratification by nine of the 13 states to come into effect, which was achieved on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify. The new government under the Constitution officially began operating on March 4, 1789.
The US Constitution of 1787 has endured as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions worldwide, shaping America's government and influencing the spread of democratic ideals globally.
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It was written during the Philadelphia Convention
The Constitution of the United States, the supreme law of the United States of America, was written and signed in 1787. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.
The Constitution was written during the Philadelphia Convention, now known as the Constitutional Convention, which convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The Convention was held in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. This was the same place where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.
The Constitutional Convention was convened to address concerns about the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but lacked enforcement powers and the ability to regulate commerce or print money. Leaders such as Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and George Washington feared that these weaknesses threatened to tear the young country apart.
The initial purpose of the Convention was for the delegates to amend the Articles of Confederation. However, it quickly became clear that the delegates were forming an entirely new form of government. The delegates represented a wide range of interests and views, and they crafted compromises to address these differing perspectives. The Constitution delineates the frame of the federal government, separating powers into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 out of 41 delegates present, with George Reed signing for John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39 signatures.
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The Constitution is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution
The United States Constitution, drafted in 1787, is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 of the 41 delegates present, and established the government of the United States. It is a four-page document that serves as the supreme law of the United States of America, delineating the frame of the federal government.
The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The Articles of Confederation were adopted in 1777 and gave limited powers to the central government. It quickly became clear that a stronger, more centralized government was needed, leading to the call for a constitutional convention in 1787. The Constitution was drafted in secret during this convention, with delegates debating and redrafting the articles over the summer. The final vote on the Constitution took place on September 15, 1787, and it was then presented to the convention on September 12.
The Constitution consists of seven articles, with the first three embodying the doctrine of the separation of powers. The legislative branch is made up of the bicameral Congress (Article I), the executive branch consists of the president and subordinate officers (Article II), and the judicial branch includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III). The remaining articles embody concepts of federalism and describe the rights and responsibilities of state governments in relation to the federal government.
The Constitution was not immediately ratified by all states, with Rhode Island being the last to approve the document on May 29, 1790. The Bill of Rights, which ensures individual liberties, was not ratified until the end of 1791. The Constitution has been amended several times since its ratification, with the first constitutionally-required census taking place in 1790 and the first amendment being added in 1791.
The creation of the United States Constitution was a collaborative effort, with delegates from all 13 states participating in the Constitutional Convention. The document stands as a model of cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise, addressing key issues such as the balance of power between the central government and the states and the representation of each state in Congress.
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It established a federal government with more specific powers
The US Constitution, the supreme law of the United States, was signed on September 17, 1787. It established a federal government with more specific powers, superseding the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.
The Constitution delineates the frame of the federal government, which is divided 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).
The Constitution's main provisions include seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, with each branch having specific powers and responsibilities. The legislative branch is responsible for making laws, the executive branch for carrying out those laws, and the judicial branch for interpreting those laws.
The Constitution also includes provisions for federalism, describing the rights and responsibilities of state governments, the relationship between the states and the federal government, and the process of constitutional amendment. The powers not granted to the federal government are reserved for the states and the people, with state governments also modelled after the federal government and consisting of executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
The delegates who drafted the Constitution were concerned with creating a government with enough power to act on a national level, but without infringing on fundamental rights. This was achieved through the separation of powers and the inclusion of checks and balances to assure that no one branch of government became too powerful.
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The Constitution was written in secret
The US Constitution was written in 1787, a few years after the Revolutionary War. At that time, the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the young country apart.
Alexander Hamilton of New York, along with James Madison and George Washington, helped convince Congress to organize a Grand Convention of state delegates to work on revising the Articles of Confederation. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May of 1787.
The delegates to the convention were instructed to keep the proceedings secret. George Washington, the presiding officer, stated:
> Nothing spoken or written can be revealed to anyone – not even your family – until we have adjourned permanently. Gossip or misunderstanding can easily ruin all the hard work we shall have to do this summer.
James Madison voted in favor of secrecy because:
> Opinions were so various and at first so crude that it was necessary they should be long debated before any uniform system of opinion should be formed.
Madison believed that a constitution would never have been created had delegates not had the opportunity to consider issues and change their minds without the pressure of public opinion. He also feared that without secrecy, many delegates would not have spoken their minds so freely, especially on controversial topics such as slavery and taxation.
The delegates to the convention were successful in their mission. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing for John Dickinson of Delaware, who was absent, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789, and became the supreme law of the United States of America.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was made in 1787.
The US Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788. However, it was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
The US Constitution was written in Philadelphia.
The US Constitution was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention. Gouverneur Morris, a delegate from Pennsylvania, is considered the "chief architect" of the document.
The US Constitution established the government of the United States and delineated its frame as federal. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, which gave little power to the central government.
