Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution, which established the country's national government, fundamental laws, and basic rights for its citizens, was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The delegates, or framers, were tasked with revising the Articles of Confederation, which served as the country's first governing document, but instead drafted a new constitution to replace it. The framers included some of the country's greatest minds, such as George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Benjamin Franklin, who, at 81, was the oldest delegate.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 17th of September, 1787 |
| Location | Philadelphia |
| Number of Signatories | 39 out of 55 delegates |
| Age of Signatories | 26 to 81 years old |
| First to Sign | George Washington |
| Refused to Sign | George Mason, Edmund Randolph, and Elbridge Gerry |
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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, by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The Constitutional Convention was tasked with revising the Articles of Confederation, the United States' first governing document, which established a weak national government. Instead, the convention's delegates drafted a new constitution to replace the Articles, creating a stronger federal government with three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
The 55 delegates to the convention, now known as the Framers of the Constitution, ranged in age from 26 to 81, with an average age of 42. The youngest delegate was Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was Benjamin Franklin, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair. Other notable delegates included George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, Edmond Randolph, and Roger Sherman.
The final text of the Constitution, consisting of around 4,200 words, was drafted by a five-member Committee of Style, which included Hamilton, Madison, William Samuel Johnson of Connecticut, Gouverneur Morris of New York, and Rufus King of Massachusetts. George Washington was the first to sign the document, and of the 55 delegates, a total of 39 signed. Some had already left Philadelphia, and three—George Mason, Edmund Randolph of Virginia, and Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts—refused to approve the document.
The Constitution was then ratified by nine of the 13 states, with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, assisted by John Jay, writing a series of 85 essays, known as "The Federalist" or "The Federalist Papers," to persuade people to ratify the Constitution. Today, the original Constitution is on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and Constitution Day is observed on September 17 to commemorate the signing of the document.
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55 delegates attended, but only 39 signed
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The original states, except Rhode Island, had collectively appointed 70 individuals to the convention. However, several of these individuals did not accept or were unable to attend, and only 55 delegates attended the sessions. Of these 55, 39 signed the Constitution, with some having already left Philadelphia, and three refusing to approve the document.
The delegates who attended the convention ranged in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair. The average age of the delegates was 42. Many of the delegates were prominent figures in their states, and some had played important roles in the Revolution. Notable delegates included George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, Edmond Randolph, and Roger Sherman.
The Constitutional Convention was tasked with revising the Articles of Confederation, which served as the first governing document for the United States. However, the delegates to the convention ultimately drafted a new constitution to replace the Articles. The Constitution established a stronger federal government with three branches—executive, legislative, and judicial—along with a system of checks and balances to ensure that no single branch would have too much power.
The final text of the Constitution was drafted by a five-member Committee of Style, which included Hamilton, Madison, William Samuel Johnson of Connecticut, Gouverneur Morris of New York, and Rufus King of Massachusetts. The document consisted of approximately 4,200 words. George Washington was the first to sign the Constitution on September 17, and it was later ratified by nine of the 13 states. James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, with assistance from John Jay, wrote a series of essays known as "The Federalist" or "The Federalist Papers" to persuade people to ratify the Constitution.
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The youngest signer was 26, the oldest was 81
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates of the Constitutional Convention. The delegates' ages ranged from 26 to 81. Jonathan Dayton, at 26, was the youngest signer, while Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest. Franklin was so infirm that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair.
The Constitutional Convention was attended by 55 delegates, with 70 individuals initially selected to participate. However, a number of those selected did not accept or could not attend, including Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock.
The signing of the Constitution was a significant event in the history of the United States, as it established the foundational principles that would guide the new nation. The document outlines fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of speech, due process of law, freedom of religion, equal protection under the law, and protection from cruel and unusual punishment. It also sets forth governmental powers, such as Congress's ability to regulate commerce among the states and the president's duty to execute the laws faithfully.
The youngest signer, Jonathan Dayton, had a notable career in public service. He served in the New Jersey militia during the Revolutionary War and later became a lawyer and politician. He represented New Jersey in the House of Representatives and went on to serve in the United States Senate.
Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer, was a renowned polymath and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was a leading writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, and printer. Franklin's contributions to the development of the United States were significant, and he played a crucial role in the American Enlightenment and the American Revolution.
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The signers included George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention. The signers included George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, who are typically counted as "Founding Fathers".
General George Washington, Commander of the Continental Army, was unanimously elected president of the Philadelphia convention in 1787. Washington, along with Madison, was instrumental in bringing about the convention. In April 1787, Madison wrote to Washington, sharing his ideas for a "new system". Washington and Madison, along with other nationalists, led the way to the federal Convention in Philadelphia.
James Madison, the "Father of the United States Constitution", was a prime author of what became known as The Federalist. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress and played a vital role in the creation of the Constitution. Madison's work on George Mason's draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights was the first step towards independence and the Constitution. He also introduced the Bill of Rights in the first Congress.
Alexander Hamilton, a brilliant, ambitious former aide-de-camp and secretary to Washington during the Revolution, became a powerful political figure. He wrote more than 50 essays for The Federalist. Hamilton proposed a model of governance with an executive serving during good behaviour or life, with veto power over all laws. He also stated that constitutional protections and limitations could "be preserved in practice no other way than through the medium of courts of justice".
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The document was ratified by nine of the 13 states
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates out of 55 who attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. However, for the document to become law, it needed to be ratified by nine of the 13 states. This process of ratification was supported by a series of essays, collectively known as "The Federalist" or "The Federalist Papers". These essays were written by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, with assistance from John Jay, and they detailed how the new government would function. The 85 essays were published under the pseudonym Publius, which is the Latin name for "The Federalist".
The process of ratification and the formation of the United States Constitution can be further understood by referring to "The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787", commonly known as Farrand's Records. This four-volume set contains documentary records of the Constitutional Convention, including notes taken by James Madison, letters by other participants, and the various constitutional plans proposed during the convention. These records can be accessed at the Library of Congress's website, "A Century of Lawmaking for A New Nation".
Another essential resource for understanding the ratification process is "Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation", commonly referred to as the Constitution Annotated. This text is authored by constitutional law experts from the Congressional Research Service and provides legal analysis and interpretation of the United States Constitution, primarily based on Supreme Court case law. It can be found in the Founding Documents section on Congress.gov, along with a Library of Congress study guide about the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
The ratification of the Constitution by nine of the 13 states was a critical step in establishing America's national government and fundamental laws, as outlined in the Constitution. It is important to note that the original states, except Rhode Island, collectively appointed 70 individuals to the Constitutional Convention, but some did not accept or could not attend, resulting in 55 delegates in attendance. The ratification process ensured that the Constitution was not just imposed by the framers but also accepted and endorsed by a significant portion of the states, moving towards a stronger federal government with three branches and a system of checks and balances.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
The framers of the Constitution were 55 delegates, including George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, Edmond Randolph, and Roger Sherman.
Of the 55 delegates, only 39 signed the Constitution. Some had already left Philadelphia, and three refused to approve the document.
The Constitution established America's national government and fundamental laws and guaranteed certain basic rights for its citizens. It replaced the Articles of Confederation, which had a weak national government. The US Constitution provided for a stronger federal government with three branches—executive, legislative, and judicial—along with a system of checks and balances.
