Isabella Carter
The original We the People Constitution of the United States was handwritten on five pages of parchment by Jacob Shallus. It was drafted during the Constitutional Convention, which took place at Independence Hall in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. The document was intended as a revision of the Articles of Confederation but introduced a new form of government, uniting a group of states with different interests, laws, and cultures under a single national government. The Constitution is on permanent display at the National Archives Museum, where visitors can view the original text with its spelling and punctuation preserved.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | The original "We the People" Constitution is located in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum. All four pages of the document are on permanent display. |
| Format | The Constitution was handwritten on five pages of parchment by Jacob Shallus. |
| Purpose | The Constitution's fundamental purpose is to unite a group of states with different interests, laws, and cultures. |
| Key Phrase | The key phrase "We the People" represents the idea that the people, not the states, are the source of the government's legitimacy. |
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What You'll Learn
- The original US Constitution was handwritten on parchment by Jacob Shallus
- The document is on display at the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum
- The preamble, beginning with We the People, sets out the intentions of the framers
- The Constitution was drafted at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787
- The document has been amended several times over the past 200+ years
The original US Constitution was handwritten on parchment by Jacob Shallus
The original US Constitution, which begins with the famous words "We the People", was handwritten on parchment by Jacob Shallus, who was thirty-seven at the time. Shallus was the assistant clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly and was chosen by the delegates of the Constitutional Convention to engross the final draft of the Constitution. Shallus was likely recommended for the job by Thomas Mifflin, a Pennsylvania Convention delegate. Mifflin, as Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly, had signed many acts engrossed by Shallus. Shallus was experienced in engrossing official documents and was conveniently available, as the Pennsylvania Assembly was meeting upstairs in the same building as the Constitutional Convention.
Shallus used a goose quill and black ink made of iron filings in oak gall, which later turned brownish. He wrote over 25,000 letters in nearly 4,500 words, completing the task on Sunday, 16 September 1787, just in time for the signing of the document the next day. The Confederation Congress paid Shallus $30 for his work, which was done on four sheets of parchment measuring 28-3/4 inches by 23-5/8 inches. On an additional half sheet of parchment, Shallus engrossed two resolutions approved by the Convention, which concerned the procedure for implementing the Constitution.
The original US Constitution, handwritten by Shallus, is on permanent display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum. All four pages of the document are available for viewing. The spelling and punctuation of the document reflect the original, including the famous preamble that begins with "We the People". This preamble sets the stage for the Constitution and communicates the intentions and purpose of the document. It outlines the basic principles that the framers agreed upon during the Constitutional Convention in the summer of 1787.
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The document is on display at the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum
The original United States Constitution, which begins with the iconic words "We the People", is on display at the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum. The document was handwritten on parchment by Jacob Shallus and consists of four pages, all of which are permanently exhibited at the museum. The National Archives Museum is a fitting place for this important document, as it is a repository of records of America's history and a place where people can learn about the country's past and present.
The Constitution is the supreme law of the land in the United States, and it outlines the country's fundamental laws and governing principles. The preamble, which starts with "We the People", sets the tone for the entire document. It communicates the intentions of the Founding Fathers and the purpose of the Constitution. This introductory statement establishes that the people, not the states, are the source of the government's legitimacy. It also highlights the six goals of the Constitution, which include forming a more perfect union, establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defence, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty for the people and their posterity.
The phrase "We the People" is significant as it represents a general social contract between the government and the citizens. It embodies the idea that the national government derives its sovereignty from the people, marking a shift from the previous identification of external monarchical sovereignty under the "United Colonies". This phrase also underscores the government's responsibility to govern and protect "the people" directly, treating them as one society rather than governing individual states as separate political units.
The original Constitution, penned by Shallus, is carefully preserved and showcased at the National Archives Museum. Visitors to the museum can witness the document's intricate calligraphy and appreciate the historical significance of each word and phrase. The museum provides an educational experience, allowing individuals to delve into the origins of their nation's governing principles and explore how these principles continue to shape their lives today.
The National Archives Museum stands as a guardian of America's historical records, with the original Constitution being one of its most prized possessions. The display of this document serves as a reminder of the country's founding ideals and the tireless efforts of the Founding Fathers to forge a nation built on liberty, justice, and unity. Visitors to the museum can reflect on the past, gain a deeper understanding of the present, and perhaps draw inspiration for the future.
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The preamble, beginning with We the People, sets out the intentions of the framers
The preamble to the United States Constitution, commencing with the words "We the People", is a concise introductory statement outlining the fundamental goals and principles guiding the Constitution. It expresses the intentions of the framers and the purpose of the document, setting the stage for the Constitution. The phrase "We the People" signifies a new concept, asserting that the people, not the states, are the source of the government's legitimacy. This notion, coined by Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania, marked an improvement from the original draft, which listed the 13 states after "We the People". Morris replaced the state names with "of the United States", followed by a list of six objectives.
The preamble was primarily written by Gouverneur Morris, a delegate from Pennsylvania, during the 1787 Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia's Independence Hall. The framers drafted the 52-word paragraph in six weeks, agreeing on basic principles that included forming a more perfect union, establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defence, promoting general welfare, and securing liberty for the citizens and their posterity.
The original U.S. Constitution, handwritten on five pages of parchment by Jacob Shallus, is preserved in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum. All four pages of the document are on permanent display, showcasing the intentions of the framers and the significance of uniting the states under a single government. The Constitution's preamble, with its opening phrase "We the People", embodies the aspirations of Americans for their government and way of life as a nation.
The preamble sets a precedent for the Constitution, though it is not considered law itself. It does not define government powers or individual rights but serves as a guiding principle for interpreting the Constitution. The preamble has been referenced in court cases, such as those involving eminent domain, where the promotion of general welfare is cited as evidence of the Founding Fathers' intentions.
The drafting of the Constitution, referred to as its framing, took place at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The convention aimed to amend the ineffective Articles of Confederation but ultimately introduced a new form of government. The document received unanimous support from eleven state delegations and Alexander Hamilton, the sole remaining delegate from New York. Within days of its signing, the Constitution was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation, and it was forwarded to the thirteen states for ratification.
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The Constitution was drafted at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787
The United States Constitution was drafted at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. The convention took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall (then known as the Pennsylvania State House). The convention was held to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The delegates to the convention, including James Madison of Virginia and Alexander Hamilton of New York, sought to create a new system of government rather than revise the existing one.
Madison, who arrived in Philadelphia eleven days early, was instrumental in setting the convention's agenda. Before the convention, he studied republics and confederacies throughout history and drafted a document titled "Vices of the Political System of the United States," which offered solutions to the weaknesses of the American political system. Madison's blueprint for constitutional revision became the starting point for the convention's deliberations. He believed that a strong central government was necessary and that Congress needed compulsory taxation authority and the power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce.
The convention was attended by 55 delegates, representing all of the states except Rhode Island. The delegates met six days a week, five hours per day, to discuss the rules of the convention and draft, debate, and ultimately sign the Constitution. The completed proposed Constitution was printed in several copies for review and was also printed in newspapers for public review. The Constitution was inscribed on parchment by Jacob Shallus and signed by 39 of the 55 delegates on September 17, 1787.
The Constitution of the United States, which is the world's oldest written national constitution still in use, established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. The document divides power between the federal government and the states, uniting its citizens as members of a whole and vesting the power of the union in the people.
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The document has been amended several times over the past 200+ years
The original United States Constitution, which begins with the famous words "We the People", is on display at the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C. All four pages of the document are on permanent display. The spelling and punctuation of the document reflect the original, which was inscribed by Jacob Shallus on parchment.
Despite the large number of proposals, there have only been 27 amendments to the Constitution. The first 10 amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments are known as the Reconstruction Amendments. Six amendments have been adopted by Congress and sent to the states but have not been ratified by the required number of states. Four of these amendments are still pending, while the other two have failed by their own terms or by the terms of the resolution proposing them.
The process of amending the Constitution is deliberately challenging, requiring a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate, as well as ratification by a requisite number of states. This ensures that any changes to the foundational document of the United States are carefully considered and broadly supported.
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Frequently asked questions
The original "We the People" Constitution is located in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum. All four pages of the document are on permanent display.
The phrase "We the People" represents the idea that the people, not the states, are the source of the government's legitimacy. It sets the tone for the rest of the Constitution, outlining the intentions and fundamental purposes of the document.
The "We the People" Constitution was handwritten on parchment by Jacob Shallus. Gouverneur Morris, a Pennsylvania delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention, also contributed significantly by coining the phrase "We the People."
The "We the People" Constitution, also known as the Preamble to the United States Constitution, is an introductory statement that outlines the guiding principles and fundamental purposes of the Constitution. It is not a law itself but sets the stage for the rest of the document.
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