Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the Constitution occurred during the Constitutional Convention, which began on May 25, 1787, and lasted four months. The Constitution established the federal government of the United States and delineated the functions of its three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The document was drafted in secret by delegates to the Convention and was signed by 39 of the 42 remaining delegates, representing 12 states. The signing of the Constitution was a significant event in American history, and it continues to be commemorated annually on Constitution Day, established by law in 2004.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 17th of September, 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of signatures | 39 |
| Number of delegates present | 41 or 42 |
| Number of delegates who refused to sign | 3 |
| Number of states represented | 12 |
| Number of states that ratified the Constitution | 9 |
| First state to ratify the Constitution | Delaware |
| Date of ratification by the ninth state | 21st of June, 1788 |
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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 contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. The document was signed by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates). The signatures were accompanied by a brief declaration stating that the delegates' work had been successfully completed and that those whose signatures appeared on the document subscribed to its contents. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note verifying four amendments made by hand to the final document and signed the note to authenticate its validity.
The US Constitution is the fundamental framework of America's system of government. It separates the powers of government into three branches: the legislative branch, which makes the laws; the executive branch, which executes the laws; and the judicial branch, which interprets the laws. The Constitution also sets up a system of checks and balances to ensure no one branch has too much power, divides power between the states and the federal government, and describes the purposes and duties of the government.
The Constitution was not immediately binding; it needed to be ratified by nine of the 13 existing states. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, and the Confederation Congress established March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating under the new government.
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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. This event occurred six years after the ratification of the Articles of Confederation, which established the first national government. However, it soon became clear that the Articles needed significant revisions, as they failed to empower the central government to carry out essential functions.
The Federal Convention of 1787 was convened to address these issues, and 74 individuals were selected to attend. Of those chosen, 55 delegates participated in the convention, with 39 ultimately signing the Constitution. The signing of the Constitution endorsed the document created during the four-month-long convention and included a declaration that the delegates' work had been successfully completed.
The 39 delegates who signed the Constitution represented 12 states, with Rhode Island being the only state that did not send a delegate. The delegates' names were grouped by state, listed in geographical order from north to south. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, while the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin.
Benjamin Franklin, despite having reservations about the document, summed up the sentiments of those who signed, 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 expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."
Within three days of its signing, the Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation, then sitting in the nation's temporary capital of New York City. The Constitution established the government of the United States and outlined the framework for its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
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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, also known as the Pennsylvania State House, on September 17, 1787. Independence Hall was also the site of the unanimous approval of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The Declaration was read aloud to the public in the area now known as Independence Square.
Independence Hall was constructed in Philadelphia, then the nation's colonial capital, in the mid-18th century. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the U.S. National Park Service and Independence National Historical Park. The building is open to the public for guided and self-guided tours.
The Constitution was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. The Federal Convention convened in Independence Hall on May 14, 1787, with the initial purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation. However, it soon became clear that the convention would instead result in the drafting of an entirely new form of government.
The final draft of the Constitution, containing seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement, was presented to the convention on September 12, 1787. The document was signed by 39 framers, including future New York governor Alexander Hamilton, who led the call for a constitutional convention. Benjamin Franklin, who also signed the document, summed up the sentiments of several delegates when he said, "There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them."
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The Constitution was drafted in secret
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 of the 41 delegates present, establishing the government of the United States. The Federal Convention convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates drafted the Constitution in secret.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention drafted the Constitution in secret during the summer of 1787. The Federal Convention met in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, with the initial goal of amending the Articles of Confederation. However, through discussion and debate, it became clear by mid-June that the Convention would draft an entirely new form of government. The delegates shuttered the windows of the State House and swore secrecy to ensure free and open dialogue during the deliberations.
The Constitutional Convention was marked by fierce debates and compromises on key issues such as congressional representation and slavery. The framers agreed to a compromise on congressional representation, granting each state one representative for every 30,000 people in the House and two senators. They also agreed to temporarily resolve the issue of slavery by allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808 and counting enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person.
As the Convention neared its conclusion, a Committee of Style and Arrangement, including Alexander Hamilton, William Samuel Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris, was tasked with distilling the final draft constitution from the approved articles. The final draft, presented on September 12, 1787, contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. The Constitution was then signed by the delegates on September 17, 1787, marking a significant moment in the establishment of the United States government.
The Constitution's signing was not the end of the process, as it still needed to be ratified by the states. The founders set the terms for ratification, bypassing state legislatures and calling for special ratifying conventions in each state. The Constitution required ratification by nine of the 13 states to come into effect. The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787, and on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, finalizing the Constitution's enactment.
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The document was ratified by nine of the 13 existing states
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the document was the culmination of a four-month-long Constitutional Convention that began on May 25, 1787, with the goal of amending the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates ultimately decided to draft a new constitution for a stronger, more centralized government.
The final draft of the Constitution, presented on September 12, 1787, was a compromise that left several delegates disappointed. Despite this, 39 of the 42 remaining delegates endorsed the document, with three refusing to sign. The Constitution was then submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City, the nation's temporary capital, within three days of its signing.
According to Article VII of the Constitution, the document would only become binding once it was ratified by nine of the 13 existing states. The process of ratification involved each state's legislature considering the proposed amendment and sending an original or certified copy of their action to the Archivist. This was a crucial step to ensure the document's validity and its acceptance by the people.
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. Some states expressed opposition due to the lack of protection for certain rights, which led to the Massachusetts Compromise in February 1788, paving the way for the Bill of Rights. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, marking a significant milestone in its journey towards becoming the supreme law of the land.
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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 establishes a system of checks and balances to ensure no one branch of government has too much power.
