Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution, the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in use, was drafted in 1787 at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The convention was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which were America's first constitution but lacked enforcement powers and the ability to regulate commerce or print money. The delegates, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, decided to completely redesign the government, creating a powerful central government while remaining loyal to their states. The final document, signed by 39 delegates, consists of seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government, including the separation of powers into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Person who wrote the constitution | James Madison |
| Person who scribed the constitution | Jacob Shallus |
| Medium | Four pieces of animal skin |
| Ink | Iron gall ink |
| Writing instrument | A quill, likely a goose quill |
| Writing style | Roundhand, a variant of English round-hand, also known as copperplate |
| Current location | Upper level of the National Archives in the Rotunda |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution was written in 1787
The Constitution of the United States was written in 1787, and it is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution that is still in force in the world. The four-page document was drafted in secret during the summer of 1787 by delegates to the Constitutional Convention, which assembled in the State House (also known as Independence Hall) in Philadelphia. The Federal Convention convened on May 14, 1787, with the initial purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation. However, through discussion and debate, it became clear by mid-June that the convention would instead result in the drafting of an entirely new form of government.
The chief points of contention during the closed sessions included the amount of power granted to the central government, the number of representatives in Congress for each state, and the process by which these representatives should be elected. The document was signed on September 17, 1787, and established the federal government of the United States, 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 was engrossed by Jacob Shallus, the Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. It 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 in the document is known as "Roundhand," which is a variant of English round-hand commonly known as "copperplate." The unique characteristics of the handwriting, particularly the line variance, suggest that it was written with a quill, as most contemporary writing instruments would not be able to produce the same effect.
The National Archives is the permanent home of the United States Constitution, and it offers online tools and resources for those interested in learning more about the document, its meaning, and its creation.
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The Philadelphia Convention
The convention was not initially intended to draft a new constitution. Most delegates expected to discuss improvements to the Articles of Confederation and would not have agreed to participate otherwise. However, once the convention began, a majority of the delegates agreed that the goal would be to create a new system of government, not just revise the existing articles. The convention was a significant event in American history, as it led to the creation of the United States Constitution and a new model of government.
The convention was held in the Pennsylvania State House, later renamed Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. Delegates from all states except Rhode Island were present, with Virginia and Pennsylvania being the first to arrive on May 14. The convention began on May 25, when a quorum of seven states was secured, and George Washington of Virginia was unanimously elected as the convention's president. The delegates debated and proposed several broad outlines for the new government, including Madison's Virginia Plan and William Paterson's New Jersey Plan. The Virginia Plan was chosen as the basis for the new government, with a general consensus reached on a federal government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The framers of the Constitution intended to create a system of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the three branches of government. They envisioned a weak presidency and a strong legislature, which would consist of a House of Representatives and the Senate. The Constitution also established an executive branch to handle routine paperwork and address matters of lesser consequence, while the Senate would handle important issues such as treaty ratification. The Constitution came into effect in 1789 after the necessary number of state ratifications and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
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The Constitutional Convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy
The creation of the United States Constitution, a document that has become the primary text of America's civil religion, was a result of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The Constitutional Convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, with all communications of the proceedings forbidden during the sitting of the convention. The delegates agreed to observe a strict rule of secrecy, with "nothing spoken in the house to be printed or otherwise published or communicated".
The rule of secrecy was deemed necessary to prevent the "licentious publication of their proceedings" and to give delegates the freedom to disagree and debate important issues without the influence of public opinion. It also allowed delegates the opportunity to consider issues and change their minds, as James Madison, who voted in favor of secrecy, believed that without secrecy, a constitution would never have been created.
The issues debated during the Constitutional Convention included the creation of a new government, bolstering the authority of the federal government to tax, regulate commerce, and resolve conflicts between states, and the model of government to be implemented. The framers of the Constitution originally imagined a weak presidency and a strong legislature, divided into a House of Representatives and the Senate.
The Constitutional Convention in 1787 resulted in a revolution in government, with the creation of the United States Constitution, which outlined the way the new state government should function and included "declarations of rights". These declarations articulated specific unalienable rights, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to a trial by jury, and the right to bear arms.
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The original signed, handwritten Constitution is at the National Archives in Washington, D.C
Cursive is a style of penmanship where the symbols of the language are written in a conjoined, flowing manner, usually to increase writing speed. Cursive is distinct from print-script, which uses block letters where the letters of a word are unconnected. Cursive handwriting developed into something approximating its current form from the 17th century, but its use was neither uniform nor standardized in England or elsewhere in the British Empire.
The United States Constitution is one of the many historical documents that were written in cursive. It was engrossed by Jacob Shallus, the Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Shallus used a quill and iron gall ink to write on four pieces of animal skin. The document is written in "Roundhand", a style of cursive that is difficult to replicate with most contemporary non-flexible writing instruments.
The original, handwritten Constitution is kept at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. It is displayed behind glass in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom. The document is an important piece of American history, as it, along with the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence, allowed for the creation of the United States and its freedoms.
While James Madison is known as the writer of the Constitution, it was Shallus who physically wrote out the clauses. Madison played a significant role as one of the key note-takers, drafters, and influential figures in the committee. The final document was likely written by Shallus due to the delegates' desire for it to be well-written and legible, ensuring no room for misreading words or mistakes.
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The Constitution was signed by 38 delegates (39 signatures)
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates, representing 12 states and 4 million people. The signing took place at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was the culmination of a four-month-long convention that began on May 17, 1787. The 39 signatures on the document endorsed the Constitution, with a brief declaration stating that the delegates' work had been completed and that those who signed approved of the final document.
The 39 delegates who signed the Constitution were chosen from a group of 74 delegates selected to attend the Constitutional Convention. Of the 74, 55 attended, and 39 signed. Several attendees left before the signing ceremony, and three of the 42 who remained refused to sign. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who summed up the sentiments of those who did sign by saying:
> There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them.
The signing of the Constitution was a significant event in American history, as it established a new American government and addressed issues such as how to elect a president, how the people could be fairly represented in Congress, and how slaves would factor into the population. The Constitution has rarely been amended and continues to stand the test of time, serving as a remarkable achievement in human history.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written on parchment by Jacob Shallus.
The US Constitution was written between May 25 and September 17, 1787.
The US Constitution was written in Philadelphia, at Independence Hall.
The US Constitution was written by 38 delegates, including George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton.
