Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution, the oldest national constitution in the world, was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the four-page document by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states, established the government of the United States. The Constitution lays out the framework of the nation's federal government and delineates how its three branches—the legislative, executive, and judicial—are to function.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | September 17, 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of Signatures | 39 |
| Number of Delegates Present | 55 |
| Number of Delegates Who Refused to Sign | 3 |
| Number of States Represented | 12 |
| Number of States Needed to Ratify | 9 |
| Oldest Signer | Benjamin Franklin (81) |
| Youngest Signer | Jonathan Dayton (26) |
| Artist of the Painting | Howard Chandler Christy |
| Year the Painting Was Completed | 1940 |
| Size of the Painting | 20 by 30 feet |
| Type of Painting | Oil on canvas |
| Location of the Painting | East grand stairway of the House wing in the U.S. Capitol |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The final draft of the Constitution was presented to the convention on September 12, and it was signed five days later. Of the 55 delegates present, 39 signed the document, including Benjamin Franklin, who, at 81, was the oldest signer, and Jonathan Dayton, who, at 26, was the youngest. The signatures were witnessed by the convention's secretary, William Jackson, who added a note verifying four amendments made by hand to the final document.
The US Constitution lays out the framework for the nation's federal government and delineates how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) are to function. The document also includes an introductory paragraph, a preamble, and a closing endorsement, in addition to the seven articles. The Constitution's opening words, "We the People," represented a new idea: that the people, not the states, were the source of the government's legitimacy.
The signing of the Constitution was a significant event in American history, and it has been commemorated through stamps and paintings, such as Howard Chandler Christy's "Signing of the Constitution," which depicts the scene at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787.
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39 delegates signed, representing 12 states
The US Constitution was signed by 39 delegates, representing 12 of the 13 states, on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rhode Island was the only state that did not send any delegates to the convention.
The 39 signatories included Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, the youngest signer, and Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, the oldest, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair. Seven of the signatories had signed the Declaration of Independence, and thirty had served on active military duty. The delegates represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with individuals having experience in local, colonial, or state government.
The signing of the US Constitution was the culmination of a four-month-long convention that began on May 25, 1787, when delegates representing every state except Rhode Island convened in Philadelphia. The convention was called due to the widespread recognition that the Articles of Confederation, which established the first national government, needed significant revisions. The Articles protected state sovereignty at the expense of the central government, which lacked the power to raise revenue or conduct diplomatic relations, and was ineffective at managing the western territories.
The delegates debated competing proposals from May to July 1787, before turning over plans to a Grand Committee, whose report, dubbed the Great Compromise, resolved many contentious points. The final document, the US Constitution, expanded the power of the central government while protecting the prerogatives of the states.
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The signing took place at Independence Hall, Philadelphia
The signing of the United States Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The building, originally known as the Pennsylvania State House, was completed in 1753 and served as the first colonial-era capitol of the Province of Pennsylvania. It was designated a World Heritage Site in 1979.
Independence Hall was also the site of the drafting and signing of the Declaration of Independence, and it served as the principal meeting place of the Second Continental Congress from 1775 to 1781 during the American Revolutionary War. The Second Continental Congress founded the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as its commander-in-chief in 1775.
The Constitutional Convention, which took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787, was a pivotal moment in the formation of the United States government. The convention saw 55 attendees out of 74 chosen delegates, with 39 ultimately signing the Constitution. The delegates represented 12 states, as Rhode Island declined to send representatives. The document laid out the framework for the nation's federal government and described the functions of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The signing of the Constitution was a significant step towards establishing a unified and functional government for the young nation. The process of gaining ratification from the necessary nine out of 13 states was challenging, but it ultimately led to the creation of a federal organisation with a system of checks and balances. The Assembly Room within Independence Hall, where the signing took place, became a shrine to the founding of the nation.
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The document was drafted in secret during the summer of 1787
The US Constitution was drafted in secret during the summer of 1787. The Federal Convention convened in the State House (now known as Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, with the initial aim of revising the Articles of Confederation. However, it soon became clear that the delegates intended to draft an entirely new form of government.
The delegates met in closed sessions throughout the summer, debating and redrafting the articles of the new Constitution. They had to tackle several contentious issues, including the balance of power between the central government and the states, congressional representation, and the election of representatives. The question of slavery also threatened to derail the Union, but a temporary resolution was reached, allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808.
The delegates shuttered the windows of the State House and swore secrecy to allow for free and open discussion. The secrecy of the proceedings enabled the delegates to speak and debate candidly, without fear of reprisal or criticism. This freedom of speech was crucial in shaping the final document, as it encouraged the open exchange of ideas and compromise.
The final document, a four-page constitution, was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates representing 12 states. The signing took place at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, bringing an end to the four-month-long Constitutional Convention. The Constitution established a powerful central government and created a federal organisation with a system of checks and balances.
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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, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This served as the official endorsement of the document by the 39 delegates in attendance, representing 12 of the 13 states (all except Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates).
However, it is important to note that the Constitution did not immediately become binding on all the states. According to Article VII, it required ratification by nine of the 13 states. The ratification process began on December 7, 1787, with Delaware becoming the first state to ratify the Constitution. This was soon followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
Several other states, particularly Massachusetts, initially opposed the document due to concerns about the lack of protection for certain fundamental rights and the absence of reservations of un-delegated powers to the states. A compromise was reached in February 1788, known as the Massachusetts Compromise, which assured these states that amendments would be proposed immediately to address their concerns. As a result, the Constitution was ratified in Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina.
Finally, on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the document, making it officially binding according to the requirements of Article VII. However, it was not until May 29, 1790, that the Constitution was ratified by all 13 states when Rhode Island, the final state, approved the document. This date, May 29, 1790, marks the completion of the ratification process and the full adoption of the United States Constitution by all the states.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787.
The US Constitution was signed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the US Constitution, representing 12 states.
The US Constitution is a four-page document that lays out the framework of the nation's federal government and delineates how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) are to function.
