Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the Constitution occurred during the Constitutional Convention, which had convened on May 25, 1787, with the aim of amending the Articles of Confederation. However, the Convention ultimately resulted in the creation of a new form of government for the United States. The Constitution was drafted in secret by delegates and included an introductory paragraph, seven articles defining the government's framework, an endorsement, and 27 amendments. Of the 74 delegates chosen, 39 signed the document, with several refusing to endorse it. The Constitution was then ratified by the states, with New Hampshire becoming the ninth and final state needed to ratify it on June 21, 1788.
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The document was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. The convention was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, but it became clear by mid-June that the convention would instead draft an entirely new form of government. The final draft of the Constitution was presented to the convention on September 12 and contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement.
On September 17, 1787, 39 of the 42 remaining delegates endorsed the Constitution, though three of them signed by proxy or by authorisation. The remaining three delegates refused to sign. The delegates represented 12 states, with Rhode Island declining to send representatives. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin.
The Constitution was not binding until its ratification by nine of the 13 existing states. The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787, and New Hampshire became the ninth and final state needed to ratify the Constitution on June 21, 1788.
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39 delegates signed the document
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This hall is now known as the National Constitution Center, where an original copy of the first public printing of the Constitution is kept. The signing of the Constitution occurred during the Constitutional Convention, which had convened on May 25, 1787, with the aim of amending the Articles of Confederation. However, the convention ultimately resulted in the drafting of a new form of government.
The final document was signed by 39 delegates, representing 12 states. Rhode Island was the only state that did not send delegates to the convention. The 39 signers included individuals such as John Dickinson, who authorised George Read to sign on his behalf due to illness. Additionally, the convention's secretary, William Jackson, signed the document to authenticate corrections.
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. It also introduced the idea that the people, rather than the states, were the source of the government's legitimacy, as reflected in the opening words, "We the People".
The Constitution did not immediately go into effect after being signed. Instead, it underwent a ratification process, where it was ratified by the individual states. The document stipulated that the ratification of nine out of the 13 existing states was required for it to come into force. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, and the Confederation Congress set March 4, 1789, as the date to begin operating under the new government.
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The signing took place at Independence Hall, Philadelphia
The signing of the United States Constitution took place at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, also known as the Pennsylvania State House. The building was constructed in the mid-18th century when Philadelphia was the nation's colonial capital. The hall has been the site of many other significant events in US history, including the unanimous approval of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which was read aloud to the public in the area now known as Independence Square.
The Federal Convention convened in 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 US Constitution, creating one unified nation. The final document was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 of the 41 delegates present, with three refusing to sign.
Independence Hall is part of the US National Park Service and Independence National Historical Park. It is open to the public for guided and self-guided tours, with tickets available online or by phone. The hall is also home to the world's only museum dedicated to the US Constitution at the National Constitution Center.
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The document was drafted in secret
The United States Constitution was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention 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, as more delegates arrived, it became clear that the convention would instead draft an entirely new form of government.
The Constitutional Convention was conducted under an oath of secrecy. The delegates' discussions and debates during the four-month-long convention remained confidential until the final document was signed. This secrecy extended beyond the convention, as the final document was not made public until it was signed and submitted to the Congress of the Confederation in New York City. The signing took place on September 17, 1787, and the Constitution was then published in a newspaper, "The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser", two days later.
The document was signed by 39 delegates, representing 12 states. Rhode Island declined to send delegates, and several delegates from other states left before the signing ceremony or refused 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 document, accepted the Constitution, stating that he expected no better and was not sure that a better one could be created.
The signing of the United States Constitution was a significant event in the country's 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 Constitution also set out the idea that the people, rather than the states, were the source of the government's legitimacy, with the famous opening words, "We the People".
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The Constitution was ratified by the states
The United States 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 signing ceremony took place at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, which had convened on May 25, 1787, with the goal of amending the Articles of Confederation. However, the convention ultimately resulted in the creation of a new form of government, outlined in the Constitution.
The Constitution was not immediately ratified by the states, and it required approval by the people through a ratification process. According to Article VII of the Constitution, it would only become binding once 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. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, marking a significant step towards its implementation.
The ratification process was not without opposition, as some states expressed concerns that the Constitution did not adequately protect certain rights, including freedom of speech, religion, and the press. To address these issues, the Massachusetts Compromise was reached in February 1788, paving the way for what would become the Bill of Rights. This compromise ensured that amendments would be proposed to protect these fundamental freedoms.
The Constitution, with its four sections, including the Preamble, seven Articles, an untitled closing endorsement, and 27 amendments, established the framework for the nation's federal government and outlined the roles of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. It also introduced the concept of "We the People," asserting that the people, rather than the states, were the source of the government's legitimacy.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787.
39 delegates signed the US Constitution. However, there were 42 delegates present at the time of signing, of which three refused to sign.
The US Constitution was signed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The US Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to do so.
