Omar Bennett
The Constitution of the United States was signed on September 17, 1787, a few years after the Revolutionary War. 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, who was absent, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The signing of the Constitution took place in Philadelphia, where representatives from all 13 states convened to participate in the Constitutional Convention. The Constitution was then ratified by Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The Civil War, on the other hand, began in April 1861, with the attack on Fort Sumter, and saw the enrollment of freed slaves into the United States military.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the US Constitution was signed | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 38 out of 41 |
| First state to ratify the Constitution | Delaware, on December 7, 1787 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
Recognizing the need for a stronger central government, Alexander Hamilton of New York led the call for a constitutional convention. The Confederation Congress supported his initiative, and delegates from all 13 states convened in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, with the initial goal of amending the Articles of Confederation. However, the convention ultimately resulted in the creation of a new form of government.
The delegates to the convention represented diverse interests and views, and they worked to craft compromises. On September 17, 1787, 38 out of 41 delegates present signed the new US Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total signatures to 39. The Constitution's signing was an extraordinary achievement, as the delegates created a powerful central government while remaining loyal to their states.
The founders set the terms for ratifying the Constitution, bypassing the state legislatures and instead calling for special ratifying conventions in each state. Ratification by 9 of the 13 states was required to enact the new government. Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The Massachusetts Compromise of February 1788 addressed concerns about the lack of protection for certain rights, leading to the proposal of amendments that would become the Bill of Rights.
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38 delegates signed the Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with George Read signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, who was absent, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The signing of the Constitution marked an extraordinary achievement, as the delegates were tasked with revising the existing government, and instead, they created an entirely new one.
The delegates represented a wide range of interests and views, and they crafted compromises to address the concerns of the different states. They were wary of centralized power and loyal to their respective states, so they designed a powerful central government while retaining the sovereignty of the states. The delegates debated and revised the document for several months, and their work resulted in one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world.
The Constitutional Convention, also known as the Federal Convention, was convened in 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, six years after the ratification of the Articles of Confederation, which established the first national government. The delegates recognized the need for significant revisions to the Articles, as they lacked the power to raise revenue, conduct diplomatic relations, or effectively manage western territories.
The delegates who signed the Constitution ranged in age from Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, to Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair. The signing of the Constitution was preceded by a speech written by Franklin and delivered by his colleague James Wilson, appealing for unity behind the Constitution. The delegates who did not sign the Constitution, including Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, George Mason of Virginia, and Randolph, were dubbed "Anti-Federalists" by their opponents.
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George Reed signed on behalf of John Dickinson
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates. One of the signatories was George Reed, who signed on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, as the latter was absent. This brought the total number of signatures to 39. The delegates were tasked with revising the existing government, but they ended up creating a completely new one.
George Read, often misspelled as George Reed, was a Founding Father of the United States. He was one of the state delegates who signed the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the US Constitution. Read was born in Cecil County, Maryland, on September 18, 1733, to Irish immigrant John Read and Mary Howell, a Welsh immigrant. He was a self-made man who rose to political prominence and became a leader in the development of the United States, particularly in Delaware.
Read was an influential delegate at the Delaware Constitutional Convention in 1776 and was considered the "most influential delegate in the state constitutional convention" by Munroe. During the Revolutionary Period, he was the leader of the moderate party in Delaware and a member of the Delaware Committee of Correspondence. Read supported Alexander Hamilton's notion of a strong central government because he believed it would regulate the power of larger states and protect the interests of smaller states like Delaware.
John Dickinson, on the other hand, did not sign the Declaration of Independence due to his disagreement with the new independent resolution. He was a contemporary of George Read and, like Read, focused primarily on state-level politics. Dickinson voiced his opposition to the new independent resolution, which Read supported despite his own inward objections. Read kept his opinions hidden and made political decisions on behalf of Delaware, prioritizing his reputation and supporters over his personal beliefs.
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The delegates created a powerful central government
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with George Reed signing on behalf of the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The delegates, representing a wide range of interests and views, created a powerful central government, establishing a completely new system of governance.
The delegates, also known as Federalists, advocated for a centralized authority to manage the affairs of a growing nation. They believed that a strong national government was crucial for addressing the challenges facing the new nation and for providing stability, security, and economic growth. The Federalists emphasized the need for a unified defence strategy, arguing that a powerful national government could maintain a standing army capable of protecting the nation from external threats and internal uprisings. They also believed that a centralized authority would better regulate commerce and prevent disputes among states.
The delegates agreed to the "Great Compromise," also known as the Connecticut Compromise, which ensured equal representation for each state in the Senate, with two delegates, while representation in the House of Representatives was based on population. This compromise addressed the concerns of both large and small states, ensuring fair representation.
The Constitution established three branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. This system of checks and balances distributed power among the branches, ensuring that no single branch became too powerful. The legislative branch was tasked with making laws, the executive branch with providing leadership and enforcing laws, and the judicial branch with interpreting laws. The highly centralized nature of this government structure gave it veto power over laws enacted by state legislatures.
The creation of a powerful central government was a significant shift from the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, which had limited enforcement powers and could not effectively regulate commerce or print money. The delegates, wary of centralized power but loyal to their states, crafted compromises to balance state sovereignty with the need for a strong national government. Their efforts resulted in one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world.
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Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The delegates were tasked with revising the existing government, but they ended up creating a new one, establishing a powerful central government.
Delaware was the first state to ratify the US Constitution on December 7, 1787, earning it the nickname "The First State". All 30 delegates to the Delaware Constitutional Convention unanimously ratified the Constitution. This was an important step in the formation of the United States as a federal democracy. Delaware's early ratification set an example for other states, and it played a leadership role in the process.
The Constitution was sent to the states for ratification, and it required the approval of nine out of the former 13 colonies for it to become binding. Delaware's quick action in ratifying the Constitution helped expedite this process. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, making federal democracy the law of the land.
Delaware's contribution to the ratification of the Constitution is significant, especially considering its small size and population. It did not have a major economic centre or product, yet it took a leading role in shaping the country's future. Delaware's delegates also contributed to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, addressing the issue of representation for small versus large states.
Delaware has a long history of contributing to the development of the United States, dating back to its participation in the American Revolution against Great Britain. It was one of the Thirteen Colonies that established the United States as an independent nation. Delaware's early ratification of the Constitution further solidified its role in the country's formative years.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, decades before the Civil War began in April 1861.
38 out of 41 delegates present signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, who was absent.
The initial purpose of the convention was to amend the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers and couldn't regulate commerce or print money.
The signing of the Constitution created a powerful central government, replacing the Articles of Confederation. It stands as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world.
