Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution 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 established the government of the United States and continues to be the supreme law of the land. It lays out the framework for the nation's federal government and delineates the function of its three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 17th of September, 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of delegates | 74 |
| Number of delegates present | 55 |
| Number of delegates who signed | 39 |
| Number of states represented | 12 |
| Number of states not represented | 1 (Rhode Island) |
| Age of youngest signer | 26 (Jonathan Dayton) |
| Age of oldest signer | 81 (Benjamin Franklin) |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The Constitution was drafted in secret by 55 delegates to the Convention, representing 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which did not send delegates). The final document was four pages long and established the federal government of the United States, outlining its framework and delineating the function of its three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial.
The document was signed by 39 of the 42 remaining delegates, with several delegates leaving before the ceremony and three refusing to sign. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin. Franklin, despite having reservations about the Constitution, accepted it, 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."
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. However, the Constitution did not go into effect immediately and required ratification by the people. New Hampshire became the ninth and final state needed to ratify the Constitution on June 21, 1788.
Connor's Constitution Signature: A Historical Mystery
You may want to see also
39 delegates signed the document, representing 12 states
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing ceremony concluded a four-month-long Constitutional Convention that had begun on May 25, 1787, with the goal of amending the Articles of Confederation. However, the convention ultimately resulted in the drafting of a new constitution.
The final document was signed by 39 delegates, representing 12 of the 13 states. Rhode Island was the lone state that declined to send delegates to the convention. The signatories included individuals who had taken part in the American Revolution, with seven having signed the Declaration of Independence and 30 having served in the military. The delegates represented a diverse range of backgrounds, with experience in local, colonial, and state governments.
Among the 39 signatories was John Dickinson, who was unwell and authorised George Read to sign on his behalf. Additionally, the convention's secretary, William Jackson, signed the document to authenticate corrections made to the final draft. Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest signer, while Jonathan Dayton, at 26, was the youngest.
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. The document also included a preamble, seven articles, and a closing endorsement, with the signatures of the framers.
DeSantis Signs Constitutional Carry: What Does it Mean?
You may want to see also
Three delegates refused to sign the Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the four-page document concluded the four-month-long Constitutional Convention, which was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, the convention ultimately resulted in the drafting of a new form of government, with 39 out of 41 or 42 delegates endorsing the Constitution.
The final draft of the Constitution, presented to the convention on September 12, contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing statement. The preamble, titled "We the People", represented a new thought: the idea that the people, not the states, were the source of the government's legitimacy. The closing endorsement, conceived by Gouverneur Morris and presented by Benjamin Franklin, was intentionally ambiguous to win over dissenting delegates.
Despite their reservations, some delegates signed the Constitution, anticipating vigorous debates within their states. Benjamin Franklin, for instance, stated that he did not approve of several parts of the Constitution but accepted it as he expected no better. The advocates of the Constitution were anxious to obtain unanimous support from all twelve states represented in the convention, and they succeeded in all but New York, whose lone remaining delegate was Alexander Hamilton.
Who Signed the Constitution? Daniel Carroll's Signature Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The signing took place in Independence Hall, Philadelphia
The signing of the United States Constitution took place in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, on September 17, 1787. Independence Hall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is part of the Independence National Historical Park. The building is open to the public daily from 9 am to 5 pm, with guided tours running every 20 minutes between 10 am and 4:20 pm. Tickets are required for entry outside of January and February.
The Federal Convention convened in the State House (now known as 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 draft an entirely new form of government. Representatives from 12 states gathered to shape the U.S. Constitution, creating one unified nation.
The final draft of the Constitution, containing seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement, was presented to the convention on September 12, 1787. Several of the delegates were disappointed with the result, and some even left before the signing ceremony. Ultimately, 39 of the 41 delegates present signed the document, with three refusing to sign.
The Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City, the nation's temporary capital, within three days of its signing. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth and final state needed to ratify the Constitution. Independence Hall has been the site of several other significant events in American history, including the unanimous approval of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and the formation of the League of Nations in 1920.
George Mason's Refusal: The Constitution's Missing Signature
You may want to see also
The document was drafted in secret during the summer of 1787
The United States 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 purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation. However, it soon became clear that the convention would instead draft an entirely new form of government. The document was signed on September 17, 1787, marking the conclusion of the four-month-long Constitutional Convention.
The Constitutional Convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy. The delegates to the convention, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates), endorsed the Constitution. The final document included signatures, a brief declaration stating that the delegates' work had been completed, and a formulaic dating of its adoption. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note verifying four amendments made to the document and signed it to authenticate its validity.
The signing of the Constitution was a significant event in American history. Of the 74 delegates chosen to attend the convention, 55 participated, and 39 signed the document. The signers represented a diverse cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, and state governments. Additionally, seven of the signers had signed the Declaration of Independence, and 30 had served on active military duty. The oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin, at 81 years old, who summed up the sentiments of those who did sign by acknowledging his own and others' partial disapproval but accepting the Constitution as the best option.
The Constitution established the framework for the nation's federal government, delineating the roles of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It also set up a system of checks and balances to ensure no single branch held too much power. The document included an introductory paragraph (Preamble), seven Articles, an untitled closing endorsement, and 27 amendments. The Preamble, with its famous opening words "We the People," emphasised that the people, not the states, were the source of the government's legitimacy.
The Constitution's Unsigners: A Historical Perspective
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787.
39 delegates signed the US Constitution, including Benjamin Franklin, John Dickinson, and George Read.
After the US Constitution was signed, it was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City. It then needed to be ratified by nine of the 13 existing states, which happened on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify.
