Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution was signed in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Constitutional Convention was held in this building from May to September 1787, and the Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. The building, constructed between 1732 and 1756, served as a meeting place for the Founding Fathers and colonial leaders to shape the future of the new nation. The Declaration of Independence was also signed in this building, which is now a public space.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | September 17, 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Building function | Pennsylvania State House |
| Room | Assembly Room |
| Number of signers | 39 |
| Total number of delegates | 74 |
| Number of delegates present | 55 |
| Number of delegates who refused to sign | 3 |
| Oldest signer | Benjamin Franklin, age 81 |
| Youngest signer | Jonathan Dayton, age 26 |
| Current location of the original document | National Archives, Washington, D.C. |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution was signed in Philadelphia's Independence Hall
The United States Constitution was signed in Philadelphia's Independence Hall, then known as the Pennsylvania State House, on September 17, 1787. The building, constructed between 1732 and 1756, served as the meeting place for the Founding Fathers and colonial leaders to shape the future of the nation.
The Constitutional Convention, which took place from May to September 1787, was a series of meetings and debates with the initial aim of revising the Articles of Confederation. However, it became clear by mid-June that the convention would instead draft a new form of government. The convention featured many prominent figures of the time, including George Washington, James Madison, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, and, for a while, Alexander Hamilton. Benjamin Franklin, at 81 years old, was also present and gave a powerful speech introducing the motion for the delegates to sign the Constitution.
Of the 41 men in attendance, 39 delegates, representing 12 states, signed the document. The three dissenters, Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph, refused to sign the final version of the Constitution. George Read signed on behalf of an absent John Dickinson, and the convention's secretary, William Jackson, also signed to attest to the Constitution's authenticity. The original document, with its four hand-written amendments, is now kept in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
Howard Chandler Christy's 1940 painting, "Signing of the Constitution," immortalizes this historic event. The 20-by-30-foot oil-on-canvas scene is on display in the east grand stairway of the House wing in the U.S. Capitol. The painting depicts the Independence Hall in Philadelphia, with George Washington standing prominently on a platform next to Richard Spaight of North Carolina, who is signing the document. Benjamin Franklin, seated in the centre, is shown with Alexander Hamilton leaning towards him, while James Madison appears farther to the right.
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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. The signing of the document took place during the Constitutional Convention, which began in May 1787 and lasted four months. The Constitutional Convention was convened to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which had established a weak central government.
Of the 74 delegates chosen to attend the convention, 55 participated, with 13 dropping out for various reasons. In the end, 39 delegates signed the document, with George Read signing for an absent John Dickinson by proxy. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, also signed the document to authenticate some corrections.
The delegates who signed the Constitution represented 12 states, with Rhode Island being the only state that did not send delegates. The signing of the Constitution was preceded by a speech from Benjamin Franklin, who, despite his initial reservations about the document, strongly endorsed it. Franklin's speech was read by James Wilson due to Franklin's poor health at the age of 81.
The U.S. Constitution laid out the framework for the nation's federal government, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The delegates who signed the document represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, and state governments. Many of them had also taken part in the American Revolution, with seven having signed the Declaration of Independence and 30 having served on active military duty.
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George Washington presided over the convention
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. George Washington presided over the convention as the Convention President, unanimously elected by the 55 state delegates.
Washington was initially reluctant to attend the convention, but his presence and support for the Constitution were crucial in calming anxieties about the future of the young nation. He believed in the need for a stronger federal government and a single executive leader, and his influence helped convince many to vote in favour of ratification. Washington's strong support for the Constitution made it difficult for Antifederalists to explain their opposition to it.
As the Convention President, Washington worked to forge consensus among the delegates, demanding complete secrecy as they engaged in controversial debates about the future of the nation. He allowed the delegates to debate the foundation of the Constitution among themselves, only participating to keep order and provide deciding votes on various proposals. Washington's leadership was essential in creating an atmosphere that facilitated the necessary compromises for the establishment of a new government.
Washington's role in the convention extended beyond his presence in the meeting room. He also corresponded with influential figures, such as Alexander Hamilton, to address concerns and gain support for the Constitution. Additionally, he sent copies of the document to Thomas Jefferson, the Marquis de Lafayette, and several former governors of Virginia. These efforts contributed to the eventual ratification of the Constitution by all states by May 29, 1790.
George Washington's leadership and guidance during the Constitutional Convention were instrumental in shaping the course of American history. His ability to foster consensus and his unwavering support for the Constitution played a pivotal role in the establishment of a new form of government and the unification of the nation.
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Benjamin Franklin made the final motion to sign
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the document was preceded by a four-month-long Constitutional Convention, which began in May 1787. The convention featured many of the great minds of the day, including James Madison, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, and, for a while, Alexander Hamilton. George Washington presided over the convention.
Benjamin Franklin, at the age of 81, made the final motion to sign the document. Franklin, in poor health, wrote a speech to introduce the motion for the convention's delegates to sign the Constitution. However, he was too weak to read the speech, so he asked James Wilson to read it to the other delegates. In his speech, Franklin acknowledged that there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of at present but that he might approve of them in the future. He argued that assembling a group of men to benefit from their collective wisdom also meant assembling their prejudices, passions, errors of opinion, local interests, and selfish views. Thus, he questioned whether any other convention could create a better Constitution.
Franklin's motion passed with 10 votes, with South Carolina's vote being divided. The motion was for the form of the signing, which was thought up by Gouverneur Morris, who gave it to Franklin so that his esteem would lend it credence. The wording of the form did not explicitly state that the signer endorsed the Constitution but rather that they affirmed that the states present in the Convention unanimously approved of it. This was to get Gerry, Mason, and Randolph, who objected to the final version, to sign by making their personal objections irrelevant to their signatures.
Following the passing of Franklin's motion, the delegates proceeded to sign the engrossed copy of the United States Constitution. Of the 41 men in the room, 38 signed the document, with George Read signing for an absent John Dickinson. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, also signed to attest to the Constitution's authenticity.
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The original signed copy is at the National Archives in Washington, D.C
The original U.S. Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall. Of the 41 men in the room, 39 delegates, representing 12 states, signed the document, with George Read signing for an absent John Dickinson. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, also signed the document to authenticate some corrections.
The National Archives in Washington, D.C., is located between 7th and 9th Streets, NW, with entrances on Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues. The research entrance to the building is on Pennsylvania Avenue, while the Rotunda entrance, which includes the Exhibit Hall and Museum, is on Constitution Avenue. Both entrances are wheelchair accessible. The research room is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and appointments are highly encouraged. The Rotunda is open daily, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The National Archives is accessible via public transportation. The Metrorail System in Washington, D.C., serves the National Archives at the Archives/Navy Memorial station (Green and Yellow Lines). There is an elevator leading to the street entrance, located across the street from the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance. A free staff shuttle bus also runs between the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C., and the National Archives in College Park, Maryland.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution was signed in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The building used to be called the Pennsylvania State House.
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787.
39 delegates signed the Constitution, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton.
Independence Hall is now a public building.
