Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 39 delegates from 12 states (excluding Rhode Island) endorsed the Constitution, which was created during a four-month-long convention. The signing of the Constitution was preceded by intense debates and compromises, with delegates grappling with questions such as the balance of power between the central government and the states, state representation in Congress, and the election process for representatives. The final document reflected a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with individuals experienced in colonial, state, and local governments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | September 17, 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| No. of delegates | 39 |
| No. of states represented | 12 |
| Youngest delegate | Jonathan Dayton, age 26 |
| Oldest delegate | Benjamin Franklin, age 81 |
| No. of delegates who refused to sign | 3 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The signing of the US Constitution was a significant moment in the country's history, as it established the framework for the nation's federal government and delineated the functions of its three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The delegates who signed the document ranged in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair.
The endorsement of the Constitution included signatures, a declaration of the delegates' successful completion of their work, and a statement of the document's adoption by the states present. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note verifying four amendments made by hand to the final document and signed it to authenticate its validity.
The road to the signing of the US Constitution began with the growing sentiment for independence from Great Britain among the colonies. On May 15, 1776, Virginia instructed its delegates to the Continental Congress to declare the colonies free and independent states. On June 7, 1776, a resolution was introduced in Congress, officially dissolving the union with Great Britain and proposing the formation of foreign alliances. Independence was officially declared on July 4, 1776, and the preparation of a plan of confederation was postponed.
It was not until November 17, 1777, that Congress agreed on a form of government that had a chance of being approved by the separate states. The Constitution was then debated, criticised, and expounded clause by clause, with Hamilton, Madison, and Jay writing the Federalist Papers in support of the new instrument of government. The struggle over ratification and the conferral of additional powers on the central government was bitter, and in some states, ratification was only achieved after significant challenges.
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39 delegates signed the Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states, endorsed the Constitution. Rhode Island did not send any delegates.
The delegates included a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with individuals having experience in local or colonial and state government. Many of them had also taken part in the American Revolution; seven had signed the Declaration of Independence, and thirty had served on active military duty.
The signing of the Constitution was the result of a four-month-long convention, during which delegates debated and crafted compromises on issues such as the power of the central government, the number of representatives each state should have in Congress, and how representatives should be elected. The final document, which established the nation's federal government and delineated the functions of its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial), was endorsed by the delegates as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present.
The process of drafting and signing the Constitution was not without dissent. Several attendees left before the signing ceremony, and three of the 42 delegates who remained refused to sign because the Constitution lacked a bill of rights. Despite this, the signing of the Constitution marked a significant step in the formation of the United States of America and the establishment of its federal government.
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The signing took place at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The signing of the United States Constitution took place at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 17, 1787. Independence Hall is located on Chestnut Street, between 5th and 6th Streets, and is open to the public daily from 9 am to 5 pm. The building has beautiful, well-preserved architecture and is considered a must-see location in Philadelphia.
The Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia in 1787, was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. However, the delegates decided to draft an entirely new frame of government. The Convention was attended by 55 delegates, representing 12 of the 13 states (Rhode Island did not send any delegates). The delegates spent three months in secret sessions, debating the new Constitution and crafting compromises on issues such as how much power to give the central government and how many representatives each state should have in Congress.
The final document, endorsed by 39 delegates, included a brief declaration stating that their work had been successfully completed and that they subscribed to the final document. The closing protocol also included a statement of adoption by the states present and a formulaic dating of its adoption. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note verifying four amendments made by hand to the document and signed it to authenticate its validity.
The language of the concluding endorsement, conceived by Gouverneur Morris and presented by Benjamin Franklin, was intentionally ambiguous to win over the votes of dissenting delegates. Franklin himself summed up the sentiments of those who signed the Constitution, despite their misgivings about certain parts of it. He accepted the Constitution because he "expected no better" and was "not sure that it [was] not the best".
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Rhode Island did not send any delegates
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 42 delegates present, 39 endorsed the Constitution, representing 12 states. Notably, Rhode Island did not send any delegates, making it the only state not represented at the signing.
Rhode Island's absence at the Constitutional Convention was not an isolated incident. The state had a history of opposing a closer union with the other former British colonies, earning it nicknames like "Rogue Island" and "the Perverse Sister." Rhode Island frequently used its veto power, including vetoing an act of the Congress of the Confederation, which led to a press war that lasted nearly a decade. This likely contributed to its reputation as the only state that did not participate in the Convention's proceedings.
Rhode Island's opposition to the Constitution was multifaceted. One of the primary concerns was the concentration of power in the central government at the expense of the states. Additionally, the Constitution would have made Rhode Island's practice of printing paper money illegal. The state had been issuing paper money since 1786, which had caused rampant inflation and made it a symbol of what ailed the Confederation for many Americans.
Rhode Island's resistance to ratifying the Constitution continued even after the Constitutional Convention. Between September 1787 and January 1790, the state rejected 11 attempts to ratify the document. It was only when faced with the threat of a trade embargo from the rest of the Union that Rhode Island finally capitulated and ratified the Constitution on May 29, 1790, more than a year after it went into effect.
In conclusion, Rhode Island's absence at the signing of the United States Constitution was emblematic of its broader opposition to the formation of a stronger central government. The state's concerns about centralization of power and its unique economic situation led to its prolonged resistance to the Constitution, making it the last state to officially ratify the document.
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The delegates came from a range of backgrounds
The delegates who signed the US Constitution came from a range of backgrounds. Of the 74 delegates chosen, 55 attended and 39 signed. The delegates represented 12 of the 13 colonies, with Rhode Island being the only colony that refused to send delegates. The delegates ranged in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who was so infirm that he had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair.
The delegates included lawyers like Roger Ludlow, who wrote much of the Fundamental Orders, which served as the first written constitution in the world to declare the modern idea that "the foundation of authority is in the free consent of the people." Other delegates had experience in local or colonial and state government. Several delegates, including Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams, had also been signatories to the Declaration of Independence, which was signed on August 2, 1776.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were loyal to their states and wary of centralized power, representing wildly different interests and views. They crafted compromises on questions such as how much power to give the central government, how many representatives each state should have in Congress, and how representatives should be elected. The delegates who signed the Constitution advocated for a new frame of government, realizing the impending difficulty of obtaining the consent of the states needed for it to become operational. They were anxious to obtain unanimous support from each state's delegation, as it was feared that many delegates would refuse to give their individual assent to the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
Delaware was the first state to ratify the US Constitution on December 7, 1787.
39 delegates signed the US Constitution.
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787.
