Isabella Carter
The United States Constitution, which lays out the framework for the nation's federal government, was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The document was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787 and was signed by 39 delegates representing 12 states. The Constitution was ratified by the states and continues to be the supreme law of the land.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 17th of September, 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of Signatures | 39 |
| Number of States Represented | 12 |
| Number of States Not Represented | 1 (Rhode Island) |
| Number of Delegates Who Refused to Sign | 3 |
| Number of Delegates Who Left Before Signing | Several |
| Oldest Signer | Benjamin Franklin (81 years old) |
| Youngest Signer | Jonathan Dayton (26 years old) |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The Constitutional Convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, so the first time the American people 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 original signed, handwritten Constitution is now held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
The Constitution was signed by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates). The names of the delegates are grouped by state, with the listing of states arranged geographically, from north to south. Thirty-eight of the 41 delegates present signed the document, while three others refused. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin. Interestingly, Franklin 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 closing endorsement of the US Constitution serves an authentication function only. It neither assigns powers to the federal government nor provides specific limitations on government action. Instead, it provides essential documentation of the Constitution's validity, recording who signed the Constitution, when, and where.
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39 delegates signed the document
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states, endorsed the Constitution. All but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates, were present.
The 39 delegates who signed the document were among 74 individuals selected to attend the convention. 55 delegates participated, though 13 dropped out, and three of the 42 remaining refused to sign. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin.
The signing of the Constitution occurred during the Constitutional Convention, which convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, so the first time the American public 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 Constitution was a charter of government that came to be ratified by the states. It establishes the framework of America's system of government and delineates how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) are to function. The document includes an introductory paragraph titled "Preamble", a list of seven Articles that define the government's framework, an untitled closing endorsement with the signatures of the framers, and 27 amendments that have been adopted under Article V.
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The signing took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The signing of the United States Constitution took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, specifically at the State House (now known as Independence Hall) in the Assembly Room. This was the same location where the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Federal Convention convened in the State House on May 14, 1787, with the goal of revising the Articles of Confederation. However, it soon became clear that a completely new form of government needed to be established.
The Constitutional Convention, conducted under an oath of secrecy, lasted for four months, from May 25 to September 17, 1787, when the final document was signed. The signing occurred on September 17, 1787, with 39 delegates endorsing the Constitution, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates). The delegates came from a diverse range of backgrounds, with many having served in the American Revolution, signed the Declaration of Independence, or served in the military.
The signing ceremony was preceded by a speech from Benjamin Franklin, who, despite his own misgivings about certain parts of the Constitution, accepted it as the best option available. He proposed that the Constitution be endorsed by the delegates as individual witnesses to the unanimous consent of the states present. This proposal was agreed upon, and the delegates signed the Constitution as witnesses to the proceedings of the convention.
The original signed Constitution, a four-page document, is now housed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C. It was first made public two days after its signing when it was published in the newspaper "The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser". The signing of the Constitution is commemorated annually on Constitution Day, which is observed on September 17.
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The document was drafted in secret
The United States Constitution was drafted in the summer of 1787, in Philadelphia, during the Constitutional Convention. The drafting was done in secret, under an oath of secrecy, and the final document was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing ceremony marked the conclusion of the four-month-long convention, which was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates ultimately decided to create a new form of government, resulting in the United States Constitution.
The Constitutional Convention was attended by 55 delegates, representing 12 states out of the 13 existing states at the time. Rhode Island declined to send any delegates. The delegates who signed the Constitution included individuals with experience in local, colonial, and state governments, and many had also taken part in the American Revolution. Seven of the signers had signed the Declaration of Independence, and 30 had served in the military.
The final draft of the Constitution, presented on September 12, 1787, was the result of discussions and debates among the delegates. It included seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. The document was engrossed by Jacob Shallus and signed by 39 delegates, with the exception of Convention President George Washington. The signatures were grouped by state, arranged geographically from north to south.
The signing of the Constitution was a significant step towards establishing the government of the United States. However, it did not immediately go into effect after being signed. The document needed to be ratified by nine of the 13 states, as per Article VII of the Constitution. The ratification process began after the signing, and on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution. This marked the establishment of the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.
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The Constitution was ratified by the states
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was drafted by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the preceding summer. The document was signed by 39 of the 42 delegates remaining at the convention, representing 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates).
The Constitution was not immediately ratified, however. It needed to be approved by the people through a ratification process. Per Article VII of the Constitution, it would "not be binding until its ratification by nine of the 13 existing states". The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
The terms of the Massachusetts Compromise, reached in February 1788, stipulated that amendments would be immediately proposed to address concerns about the lack of protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. These amendments would become the Bill of Rights.
On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth and final state needed to ratify the Constitution. The Confederation Congress then established March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating the new government. The Constitution continues to be the supreme law of the land in the US.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the US Constitution, representing 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates).
The US Constitution is a four-page document that lays out the framework for the nation's federal government and delineates how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) are to function.
