Isabella Carter
The United States Constitution, a four-page document outlining the framework of the nation's federal government and its three branches, 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 for four months. The document was signed by 39 delegates, representing 12 states, and established the government of the United States. The Constitution was ratified by the states and became the supreme law of the land, shaping American history and influencing the spread of democratic ideals worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 17th of September, 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of Signatures | 39 |
| Number of States Represented | 12 |
| Number of Delegates Present | 41 or 42 |
| Number of Delegates Who Signed | 38 or 39 |
| Age of Youngest Signer | 26 (Jonathan Dayton) |
| Age of Oldest Signer | 81 (Benjamin Franklin) |
| Number of States Required for Ratification | 9 |
| Date of Ratification | 21st of June, 1788 |
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What You'll Learn
Date and location
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Independence Hall, also known as the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, is where the Declaration of Independence was also signed. The Constitutional Convention, which drafted the document, convened on May 25, 1787, with delegates from 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates).
The signing ceremony took place during the convention's final session, with 39 delegates endorsing the Constitution. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note verifying four amendments made to the final document and signed it to authenticate its validity. The final document was engrossed by Jacob Shallus.
The Constitutional Convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy, and the first public printing of the Constitution 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 kept at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
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Key figures present
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates). The signatures were endorsed by the delegates as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin.
Among the key figures present was George Washington, the Convention President. The names of the other 38 delegates who signed the document are as follows:
- John Dickinson (by proxy)
- William Jackson (not a delegate, but the convention's secretary who signed to authenticate corrections)
- Alexander Hamilton
- William Samuel Johnson
- Rufus King
- James Madison
- Gouverneur Morris
- John Jay
- George Read
Alexander Hamilton, from New York, was a key figure in calling for a constitutional convention to re-evaluate the nation's governing document. He also led the lobbying efforts for votes in favour of ratifying the Constitution. James Madison, who had significant influence in the House, was another important figure. Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer, 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 will accept the Constitution... because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best.
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Amendments
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 74 delegates who were chosen, 55 attended and 39 signed the document. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note to verify four amendments made by hand to the final document, and signed the note to authenticate its validity.
To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states (38 since 1959) by either the legislatures of three-fourths of the states or state ratifying conventions in three-fourths of the states. The Archivist of the United States is responsible for administering the ratification process. Once an amendment is ratified, the archivist issues a certificate proclaiming that it has become an operative part of the Constitution.
There have been 27 amendments to the Constitution, beginning with the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments, ratified on December 15, 1791. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments are collectively known as the Reconstruction Amendments. In total, 33 amendments have been proposed by the United States Congress and sent to the states for ratification. Twenty-seven of these have been ratified by the requisite number of states and are part of the Constitution. Six amendments have not been ratified by the required number of states. Four of those amendments are still pending, one has failed by its own terms, and one has failed by the terms of the resolution proposing it.
The last time a proposal gained the necessary two-thirds support in both the House and the Senate for submission to the states was the District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment in 1978. Approximately 11,848 proposals to amend the Constitution have been introduced in Congress since 1789 (as of January 3, 2019).
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Historical context
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the document marked the culmination of a four-month-long Constitutional Convention, which began on May 25, 1787, and brought together 55 delegates from 12 states (all except Rhode Island). The convention was convened due to concerns about the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, which gave the Confederation Congress rule-making and funding powers but lacked enforcement powers and the ability to regulate commerce or print money. This led to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening the stability of the young nation.
The Constitutional Convention was initially intended to amend the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates ultimately crafted a new constitution. The 39 delegates who signed the document represented a diverse range of interests and views, and their task was to create a powerful central government while addressing the concerns of the individual states. The final draft of the Constitution, presented on September 12, 1787, included a preamble, seven articles, and a closing endorsement. Several delegates were disappointed with the compromises made, and some left before the signing ceremony, while three others refused to sign.
The Constitution laid out a framework for the nation's federal government, defining the roles of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The signers of the document had diverse backgrounds, with virtually all having participated in the American Revolution, seven having signed the Declaration of Independence, and 30 having served in the military. The oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin, at 81, who summed up the sentiments of those who signed despite their reservations, stating that he accepted the Constitution because he "expected no better."
The ratification process for the Constitution began after its signing, with Delaware becoming the first state to ratify it on December 7, 1787. The terms of the Massachusetts Compromise, reached in February 1788, addressed concerns about the lack of protection for certain rights, leading to the proposal of amendments that became the Bill of Rights. The Constitution was ratified by the necessary nine out of 13 states, and the first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, with the new government taking office on March 4, 1789. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, and the Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution by the end of the following year.
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Impact and significance
The signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, had a profound impact on the nation's future, shaping its federal government and political landscape. The Constitution's significance lies in its role as a foundational document that established a new form of government, addressed the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, and set forth the rights and liberties of the American people.
One of the most significant impacts of the Constitution was the creation of a strong central government. The delegates at the Constitutional Convention, wary of centralized power but mindful of the need for a more robust governance structure, crafted a powerful central government that could effectively address the disputes and challenges facing the young nation. This new government featured three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—each with its own distinct roles and responsibilities, creating a system of checks and balances to ensure stability and prevent the concentration of power in a single branch.
The Constitution also had a significant impact on the relationship between the federal government and the states. While the Articles of Confederation had established a loose confederation of states, the Constitution introduced a more unified nation, bypassing state legislatures and calling for special ratifying conventions in each state. This shift towards a stronger central government was not without opposition, as Anti-Federalists expressed concerns about the resemblance to the overthrown government and the lack of a bill of rights. However, the Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, successfully advocated for a stronger federal government to address the nation's pressing issues.
The signing of the Constitution also carried symbolic significance. Of the 39 signers, many had played pivotal roles in the American Revolution, with seven having signed the Declaration of Independence and 30 having served in the military. This blend of diverse experiences and perspectives resulted in a document that represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership. The oldest signer, Benjamin Franklin, summed up the sentiments of many when he expressed his acceptance of the Constitution, acknowledging its imperfections but recognizing the need for a workable framework to unite the states.
The Constitution's impact extended beyond the political realm and influenced the advancement of personal liberties. The ideas of political philosophers such as Locke, Hume, and Montesquieu were reflected in the document, and the Enlightenment ideal of "We the People" signalled a shift towards viewing the people, rather than the states, as the source of the government's legitimacy. This emphasis on individual rights and liberties would later be solidified with the adoption of the Bill of Rights, addressing concerns raised by states during the ratification process.
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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 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 established the government of the United States and continues to be the supreme law of the land. It also played a significant role in the spread of democratic ideals worldwide.
