The Constitution: Signed And Dated

The United States Constitution, the supreme law of the United States, was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the Constitution occurred during the Constitutional Convention, which had been assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789, and it delineates the framework of the federal government and its three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.

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The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, marking a pivotal moment in the nation's history. The signing of this foundational document established the framework for the country's federal government and outlined the functions of its three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.

The road to the Constitution's signing began earlier that year, in May 1787, when delegates from 12 states assembled in Philadelphia for the Constitutional Convention. The original goal of the Convention was to revise the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, which had granted powers to the Confederation Congress but lacked enforcement authority and the ability to regulate commerce or print money. However, the delegates soon decided to create an entirely new form of government.

The Convention witnessed intense debates over congressional representation, slavery, and other critical issues. The final draft of the Constitution, presented on September 12, reflected a series of compromises. While some delegates were disappointed and refused to sign, 39 delegates ultimately endorsed the document, representing a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership.

The signing of the Constitution was a significant step towards forming a more perfect union and addressing the challenges faced by the young nation. The document superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789, as the supreme law of the land. The ratification process, however, was not without opposition and controversy, with Anti-Federalists expressing concerns about the lack of protection for certain rights.

The Constitution's signing in Philadelphia, witnessed by the likes of Benjamin Franklin, marked a turning point in the nation's history. It laid the foundation for a stronger, more centralized government and set in motion a series of events that would shape the future of the United States of America.

39 delegates endorsed the Constitution

The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was the culmination of a four-month-long Constitutional Convention that began in May 1787, with the aim of amending the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates soon decided to completely redesign the government, and by mid-June, they had agreed on a plan for a new form of government.

The final draft of the Constitution, presented to the convention on September 12, was a compromise that left several delegates disappointed. Some left before the signing ceremony, and three of the remaining delegates refused to sign. In the end, 39 delegates representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates) endorsed the Constitution. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair.

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: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The closing endorsement of the Constitution, conceived by Gouverneur Morris and presented by Franklin, was intentionally ambiguous to win over dissenting delegates. Franklin himself acknowledged that there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of, but he accepted it because he "expected no better" and was "not sure that it [was] not the best".

The delegates who endorsed the Constitution ranged from strong Federalists like Alexander Hamilton, who believed in the necessity of a strong central government, to those with more Anti-Federalist leanings, who were concerned about the potential overreach of a powerful central government. Despite their differences, these 39 individuals came together to sign the document, setting the stage for the first federal elections and the official implementation of the Constitution in 1789.

The Federalists supported the Constitution, the Anti-Federalists opposed it

The United States Constitution, the country's supreme law, was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates, though some sources state 38. The signing occurred during the final session of the Constitutional Convention, which had assembled in Philadelphia in May of the same year. The convention was attended by 55 delegates, who aimed to amend the Articles of Confederation, which was the nation's first constitution. However, the delegates ultimately decided to completely redesign the government, leading to the creation of the US Constitution.

The Federalists supported the Constitution, while the Anti-Federalists opposed it. The Federalists, who supported Alexander Hamilton's policies and expansive constitutional interpretations, believed that a strong central government was necessary to address the nation's challenges. They argued that the national government would only have the powers specifically granted by the Constitution and that the separation of powers into three equal branches would prevent the government from becoming too powerful. The Federalists also promised to add a Bill of Rights to gain the support of the Anti-Federalists.

The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, were concerned that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government at the expense of the states. They favoured strong state governments, a weak central government, the direct election of government officials, short term limits for officeholders, and the strengthening of individual liberties. The Anti-Federalists' opposition led to the inclusion of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution to protect Americans' civil liberties.

The ratification campaign was a close contest. The compromise reached in Massachusetts, where the "vote now, amend later" approach was adopted, helped secure victory for the Federalists in that state and eventually in the final holdouts. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth and final state needed to ratify the Constitution. The Constitution was ratified in 1788 and went into effect in 1789.

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The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789

The United States Constitution, the country's current and second constitution, was signed on September 17, 1787, and superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789. The Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, was adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and came into force on March 1, 1781.

The Constitutional Convention, which drafted the United States Constitution, assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787. The delegates initially gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation, but by mid-June, they had decided to completely redesign the government. The convention was marked by secrecy, with windows shuttered so delegates could speak freely.

The final draft of the United States Constitution, presented to the convention on September 12, 1787, contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. The document was signed by 39 delegates, though some were disappointed with the result and refused to sign. The new constitution provided for a much stronger federal government by establishing a chief executive (the president), courts, and taxing powers.

The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation when it went into effect on March 4, 1789. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, and New Hampshire became the ninth and final state needed to ratify the Constitution on June 21, 1788. The new government under the Constitution was set to begin on March 4, 1789, and federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789.

The Constitution was ratified by nine states, with New Hampshire being the ninth

The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates, though some sources state 38 out of 41 delegates present. The signing occurred at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, which assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787. The delegates had gathered to amend the Articles of Confederation, but ultimately created a new form of government.

The Constitution would not be binding, however, until it was ratified by nine of the 13 existing states. The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The constitution was then ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina.

New Hampshire became the ninth and final state needed to ratify the Constitution on June 21, 1788. The journey to New Hampshire's ratification was not straightforward. The state's political habits and traditions were deeply rooted, and any measure that seemed to threaten popular liberties met with opposition. Initially, approval seemed likely, but there was a sudden adjournment that sent shockwaves around the country and dismayed Federalists. When the convention reassembled in mid-June, the outcome was uncertain. Federalists pushed for a quick vote, while Anti-Federalists sought to minimize damage by insisting on conditional amendments prior to voting to ratify. The motion to ratify the Constitution with recommended, not conditional, amendments ultimately passed.

With New Hampshire's ratification, the Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America.

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