Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution, the oldest written national constitution in use, was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Federal Convention convened on May 14, 1787, in the State House (now known as Independence Hall) to revise the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates ultimately drafted a new form of government, creating a four-page document that established the government of the United States. The Constitution was ratified by the states and became the supreme law of the land, with the first state to ratify being Delaware on December 7, 1787.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date written | Summer of 1787 |
| Date signed | September 17, 1787 |
| Location written and signed | Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall), Philadelphia |
| Number of delegates who signed | 38 or 39 |
| Total number of delegates present | 41 |
Explore related products
$9.99 $9.99
What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed in Philadelphia
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 members of the Constitutional Convention, though some sources state that 38 of 41 delegates present signed it. The document established the government of the United States and is the supreme law of the land. It consists of seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. The first three articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The legislative branch consists of the bicameral Congress, the executive branch is made up of the president and subordinate officers, and the judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, which had attempted to retain as much independence and sovereignty for the states as possible, but had deprived the national government of essential powers. The writers of the Constitution were particularly concerned with limiting the power of the government and protecting the liberty of citizens. The Constitution also included a compromise on slavery, prohibiting Congress from banning the importation of enslaved people until 1808.
The Constitution was submitted for ratification to the 13 states on September 28, 1787. The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The ratification process was completed when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify on June 21, 1788. The new government began operating on March 4, 1789.
Text Messages: Written Notice in Maryland?
You may want to see also
It was signed in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House
The US Constitution was signed in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. The building is located in Philadelphia, where the delegates convened from May 25 to September 17, 1787, to draft the Constitution. The Federal Convention was called to revise the Articles of Confederation, the country's first constitution. However, it became clear that a new framework of government was needed, and the delegates secretly drafted the US Constitution.
The Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House holds significant historical importance as it is also where the Declaration of Independence was signed. The room served as a venue for important discussions and debates during the Constitutional Convention, also known as the Philadelphia Convention. The delegates worked diligently to create a new form of government that would address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation.
The Constitution-drafting process was conducted under an oath of secrecy, and the final document was presented to the convention on September 12, 1787. The document was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 members of the Constitutional Convention. This date also marked the conclusion of the Convention. The signing of the Constitution was a significant step towards establishing a stronger and more centralized government for the newly formed nation.
The Assembly Room witnessed intense debates and careful deliberations as the delegates worked to create a governing document that would protect the freedom and rights of citizens. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation and established a federal government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The signing of the Constitution was a pivotal moment in American history, solidifying the framework of the government of the United States.
Federalism's Constitutional Roots: Why and How It's Written
You may want to see also
39 delegates signed the Constitution
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Independence Hall was the same place where the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Constitution was drafted in secret by 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. This four-page document established the government of the United States.
The Constitutional Convention was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which established the first national government. However, it became clear by mid-June that the convention would draft an entirely new frame of government rather than amend the existing Articles. The convention debated competing proposals from May to July 1787 before turning over plans to a Grand Committee, whose report ironed out many contentious points. The final document, known as the Constitution, expanded the power of the central government while protecting the prerogatives of the states.
Of the 55 delegates who participated in the convention, 39 signed the Constitution. Thirteen delegates dropped out, and three who remained until the end refused to sign. The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin. George Washington, as president of the Convention, signed first, followed by the other delegates, grouped by states from north to south.
The signers of the Constitution represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with individuals having experience in local, colonial, or state government. Virtually every signer had taken part in the American Revolution; seven had signed the Declaration of Independence, and 30 had served on active military duty.
Understanding Qualified Written Requests: What Are They?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The signing took place on September 17, 1787
The final document was drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787. It was a four-page document, signed on September 17, 1787, that established the government of the United States. The signing took place at the convention's final session, and 39 delegates signed the document. Three others refused to sign, and several were disappointed in the result, believing it to be a series of unfortunate compromises.
The Constitution was then submitted for ratification to the 13 states on September 28, 1787. Delaware was the first state to ratify, doing so on December 7, 1787, and New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify on June 21, 1788. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document.
The original signed, handwritten Constitution is held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
When Illinois Last Rewrote Its Constitution
You may want to see also
The document was drafted in secret
The United States Constitution was drafted in secret by 55 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, it soon 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 to the Convention were bound by this oath, and the proceedings of the Convention were kept confidential. The secrecy allowed the delegates to deliberate and negotiate without outside influence or interference. It also provided a safe space for them to express their ideas and compromise on contentious issues.
The final draft of the Constitution, presented to the Convention on September 12, 1787, contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing endorsement. The primary author of the final document was Gouverneur Morris, a delegate from Pennsylvania. The document was engrossed by Jacob Shallus and taken up at the Convention's final session on September 17, 1787.
On September 17, 1787, the Convention concluded with the signing of the new Constitution by 39 delegates. The signing took place in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. The Constitution was then submitted for ratification to the 13 states on September 28, 1787.
The US Constitution: A Historical Document's Origin Story
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was written in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall.
The US Constitution was written during the summer of 1787.
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates.
![Philadelphia [Blu-ray] [4K UHD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81c7UwMtnLL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
