Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution, the nation's supreme law, 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.
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This event occurred at the conclusion of a four-month-long Constitutional Convention, which had convened on May 25, 1787, with the initial purpose of amending the existing Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates ultimately drafted a new constitution, creating a new form of government.
The final document was engrossed by Jacob Shallus and presented to the convention on September 17, 1787, during its final session. Of the 74 delegates chosen, 55 attended, and 39 signed the Constitution. Several delegates left before the 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. Interestingly, Franklin expressed mixed feelings about the Constitution, stating that while he did not approve of all its parts, he accepted it as he "expected no better."
The signing of the Constitution was a significant moment in American history, as it established the framework for the nation's federal government and delineated the functions of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. It also introduced the concept of "We the People," asserting that the people, not the states, were the source of the government's legitimacy.
Within three days of its signing, the Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City, the nation's temporary capital. The document then underwent a ratification process, with Delaware becoming the first state to ratify it on December 7, 1787. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth and final state needed to ratify the Constitution, solidifying its establishment as the supreme law of the land.
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39 delegates signed the document
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This hall is now known as the National Constitution Center, where an original copy of the first public printing of the Constitution is kept. The signing of the Constitution occurred four months after the Constitutional Convention first convened on May 25, 1787, in the same location. The convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, and so the first public printing of the Constitution was published in a newspaper, The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser, on September 19, 1787—two days after it was signed.
The final document was engrossed by Jacob Shallus and was taken up on the Monday of the convention's final session. Several of the delegates were disappointed in the result, a makeshift series of unfortunate compromises. Some left before the ceremony, and three of the 42 delegates who remained refused to sign. In the end, 39 delegates signed the document, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates). The names of the 39 delegates are inscribed upon the proposed constitution. Among them is John Dickinson, who, due to illness, authorised George Read to sign on his behalf. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, also signed the document to authenticate some corrections.
The 39 delegates whose names were inscribed on the document were:
- George Washington (Convention President)
- John Dickinson
- George Read
- William Jackson
- Jonathan Dayton
- Benjamin Franklin
And 33 others.
Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer at 81, 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 accept this Constitution [...] because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."
The advocates of the Constitution were anxious to obtain unanimous support from all 12 states represented in the convention. Their accepted formula for the closing endorsement was:
> "Done in Convention, by the unanimous consent of the States present."
At the end of the convention, the proposal was agreed to by 11 state delegations and the lone remaining delegate from New York, Alexander Hamilton. Within three days of its signing, the Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation, then sitting in the nation's temporary capital, New York City.
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It was drafted in secret
The United States Constitution was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. The Federal Convention convened in the State House (now known as Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. The delegates from only two states were present at first, so the members adjourned until a quorum of seven states was obtained on May 25.
Through discussion and debate, it became clear by mid-June that, rather than amend the existing Articles, the Convention would draft an entirely new form of government. The Constitutional Convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, so the first time Americans saw the Constitution was when it was published in a newspaper, The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser, on September 19, 1787—two days after it was signed.
The final draft, presented to the convention on September 12, contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. Several of the delegates were disappointed in the result, a makeshift series of unfortunate compromises. Some delegates left before the ceremony and three others refused to sign. Of the thirty-nine signers, Benjamin Franklin summed up, addressing the convention:
> "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 accept the Constitution because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."
The advocates of the Constitution were anxious to obtain unanimous support of all twelve states represented in the convention. Their accepted formula for the closing endorsement was "Done in Convention, by the unanimous consent of the States present". At the end of the convention, the proposal was agreed to by eleven state delegations and the lone remaining delegate from New York, Alexander Hamilton.
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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, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Independence Hall was also the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which unified the colonies in North America and declared them independent of Great Britain.
The Federal Convention convened in the State House (also known as Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. The delegates soon realised that rather than amend the existing Articles, they would need to draft a new frame of government. Representatives from 12 states gathered to shape the U.S. Constitution, creating one unified nation.
The final draft of the Constitution, a four-page document, was signed on September 17, 1787, and established the government of the United States. Within three days of its signing, the Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation, then sitting in New York City, the nation's temporary capital. The signing was the culmination of three months of meetings, during which time a Committee of Style and Arrangement was appointed to distill a final draft constitution from the 23 approved articles. The final draft contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement.
Independence Hall is part of the U.S. National Park Service and Independence National Historical Park. The building is open to the public daily from 9 am to 5 pm via timed, ticketed tours only.
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The document was ratified by the states
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. However, the journey to its ratification was a lengthy one. After months of debate and compromise, the final document was drafted and signed by 39 delegates, but it still needed to be ratified by the states.
The ratification process began almost immediately after the Convention ended. The document needed the approval of nine of the thirteen states to become the law of the land. This was no easy task, as the delegates had to return to their home states and make their case to state legislatures and the people. The debate over ratification raged on for over a year, with the first state, Delaware, ratifying the Constitution on December 7, 1787.
The ratification process concluded on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution. This made the document the official framework of the US government. While Rhode Island and North Carolina did not ratify the Constitution until after it was officially in effect, their approval further solidified the Union. The lengthy and often contentious process of ratification highlighted the complexity and importance of the issues at stake, and the final document reflected a hard-won compromise that continues to shape American government and society today.
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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.
The US Constitution is the fundamental framework of America's system of government. It separates the powers of government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
The US Constitution is a charter of government that continues to be the supreme law of the land. It established the government of the United States and delineates how its three branches are to function.
