Malcolm Rivera
The United States Constitution is a foundational document that has endured for centuries, but not all of the delegates appointed to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 signed it. Of the 70 individuals collectively appointed by the original states (except Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates), only 39 signatures appear on the document. This raises an intriguing question: which delegates did not sign the Constitution, and why?
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What You'll Learn
- Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts refused to sign
- Edmund Randolph of Virginia was worried it wouldn't be approved
- George Mason of Virginia was dissatisfied with the final document
- Caleb Strong of Massachusetts never signed the Constitution
- Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams and John Hancock did not attend signing and were not delegates
Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts refused to sign
Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts was one of the delegates who refused to sign the US Constitution. He was joined by Edmund Randolph and George Mason of Virginia. Gerry and Mason participated fully in the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia but flatly refused to sign the document.
The Constitutional Convention was plagued by attendance issues. Of the 70 individuals appointed by the original states (except Rhode Island, which didn't send any delegates), only 55 attended the sessions. Of those 55 delegates, only 39 actually signed the Constitution.
Several factors contributed to the low attendance. Some delegates, like Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock, were serving their country overseas and couldn't attend. Others, like Richard Henry Lee and Patrick Henry, didn't accept their appointments. Health issues also prevented some delegates from attending, and travel difficulties may have contributed to the problem.
Some delegates left the Convention early for personal or business reasons, and a few had to return home due to family health concerns. A handful of delegates stayed until the end but refused to sign, including Gerry, Mason, and Randolph. These men were dissatisfied with the final document, citing reasons such as a lack of a Bill of Rights.
It's worth noting that some of these delegates' concerns were later addressed when a Bill of Rights was ratified and added to the Constitution.
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Edmund Randolph of Virginia was worried it wouldn't be approved
Edmund Randolph was a delegate from Virginia to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. He was born on August 10, 1753, to a prominent Virginia family and pursued a career in law. Randolph was the governor of Virginia and had an extensive political career. He was also a member of the "Committee of Detail", tasked with converting the Virginia Plan's 15 resolutions into a first draft of the Constitution.
However, despite his involvement in the drafting process, Randolph ultimately refused to sign the final document. He was worried that the Constitution wouldn't be approved by the requisite nine states. In the closing days of the Convention, he announced his decision not to sign. Randolph thought that the federal judiciary would threaten state courts, and he considered the Senate too powerful and Congress's power too broad. He also objected to the lack of a provision for a second convention to act after the present instrument had been referred to the states.
Randolph's concerns about the approval of the Constitution were not unique. The Constitutional Convention was plagued by attendance issues, and only a small handful of delegates deliberately rejected the substance of the document. Some delegates had to leave early for personal or business reasons, while others never attended a single session. Despite his initial opposition, Randolph ultimately changed his mind and supported the Constitution, but a handful of others never could get comfortable.
In conclusion, Edmund Randolph of Virginia's decision not to sign the Constitution was influenced by his worry that it wouldn't gain the necessary approval. He had concerns about the content of the document and the process of its creation, but he eventually set aside these worries and supported its adoption.
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George Mason of Virginia was dissatisfied with the final document
The United States Constitution is a foundational document that has endured through the years, but not everyone was satisfied with its contents. One notable delegate who refused to sign the Constitution was George Mason of Virginia. Mason actively participated in the Constitutional Convention, but ultimately rejected the document due to his dissatisfaction with its final form.
George Mason's decision to not sign the Constitution highlights his unwavering commitment to his principles. He was a prominent figure in the American Revolution and is often regarded as one of the Founding Fathers of the nation. Mason's influence can be seen in his contributions to the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which served as a precursor to the Bill of Rights in the Constitution.
Mason's dissatisfaction with the Constitution stemmed from several key reasons. Firstly, he believed that the document lacked a Bill of Rights that would protect the fundamental rights and liberties of citizens. This was a significant concern for Mason, as he considered a Bill of Rights essential to safeguarding individual freedoms and preventing government overreach. Additionally, Mason disagreed with the structure of the federal government outlined in the Constitution. He favoured a weaker central government and stronger state governments, a viewpoint that clashed with the establishment of a stronger federal government as outlined in the document.
Another point of contention for Mason was the issue of slavery. He advocated for the abolition of slavery and believed that the Constitution should have included measures to end the practice. However, the final document did not address this issue, and Mason found this omission unacceptable. Furthermore, Mason disagreed with the compromise reached on the issue of representation, known as the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of representation in Congress.
The refusal of George Mason of Virginia to sign the Constitution underscores the complexities and disagreements that existed during the nation's founding. While he did not agree with the final document, his participation and dissent reflect the robust debate and exchange of ideas that characterised the Constitutional Convention.
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Caleb Strong of Massachusetts never signed the Constitution
Caleb Strong of Massachusetts was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention who never signed the Constitution. Strong was born in 1745 in Northampton, Massachusetts, and received his early education from Rev. Samuel Moody before entering Harvard College in 1760. After graduating with high honors, he was afflicted with smallpox, which temporarily blinded him and prevented him from pursuing law for several years. He later studied law with Joseph Hawley and was admitted to the bar in 1772, beginning his practice in Northampton.
Strong was active in politics and served in various roles before becoming a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. He served on the Northampton Committee of Safety and other local offices, but refused to serve in the Continental Congress. During the Revolutionary War, he was unable to serve in the military due to his impaired vision but remained active in the Patriot cause. He was a delegate to the 1779 Massachusetts Constitutional Convention and played a role in drafting the state constitution, which was ratified in 1780. Subsequently, he served on the first governor's council and in the state senate from 1780 to 1789.
Despite attending the Constitutional Convention, Caleb Strong of Massachusetts never signed the Constitution. He was not alone in this decision, as several other delegates also chose not to sign. Some delegates had left the convention early due to personal or business reasons, while others, like Strong, stayed until the end but refused to sign. The reasons for Strong's decision are not explicitly stated, but it is speculated that he may have had concerns about the substance of the document or other reservations.
Strong continued to be involved in politics after the Constitutional Convention. He served as a senator from Massachusetts from 1789 to 1796 and later became the governor of Massachusetts (including the District of Maine) from 1800 to 1807 and again from 1812 to 1816. Strong's political career was marked by his ability to navigate the state in a Federalist direction during a time when the rest of the country was shifting towards Republicanism.
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Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams and John Hancock did not attend signing and were not delegates
Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock are all figures of immense historical significance in the context of the American Revolution and the drafting of the Constitution. However, they did not attend the signing of the United States Constitution and were not delegates to the Constitutional Convention. Here's a more detailed look at each of these individuals and their roles:
Patrick Henry:
Patrick Henry was a prominent figure in the American Revolution, known for his powerful oratory and rhetoric. He served as a delegate to the First Continental Congress in 1774, where he signed the Petition to the King and helped draft the Continental Association. Henry played a significant role in declaring Virginia independent and pressing for American independence. He also served on the committee that drafted the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the original Virginia Constitution. While Henry actively advocated for independence and shaped early state constitutions, he was not directly involved in the signing of the United States Constitution.
Thomas Jefferson:
Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, played a crucial role in shaping American ideals and governance. He was serving as the ambassador to France when the Constitutional Convention met in 1787. However, he remained well-informed about the proceedings through his correspondence with James Madison. Jefferson wanted the Constitution to be accompanied by a written Bill of Rights to guarantee personal liberties. While he did not sign the Constitution, he contributed to the early government of the United States and later served as its third President.
John Adams:
John Adams was pivotal in achieving independence from Great Britain and establishing a democratic form of government. He played a significant role in drafting the Massachusetts Constitution, which served as a model for the United States Constitution. Adams was an early supporter of independence and contributed to the development of the constitutional form of government. He became the first Vice President of the United States after the adoption of the Constitution and later served as the second President. While Adams was instrumental in the lead-up to the Constitution, he did not sign the document or attend the Constitutional Convention.
Samuel Adams:
Samuel Adams was a prominent leader in the movement for colonial rights and independence. He frequently published letters and accounts in colonial newspapers, criticizing British colonial policies, particularly taxation without representation. Adams was a delegate appointed to draft the Articles of Confederation, reflecting his wariness of a strong central government. He urged Massachusetts to ratify the Articles and signed them in 1778. Adams also played a role in state-level constitutional conventions, such as the one held in Massachusetts in 1779. However, he was not a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and did not sign the United States Constitution.
John Hancock:
John Hancock is known for his iconic signature on the Declaration of Independence, a symbol of patriotism and defiance in the face of British tyranny. His signature stood out among the 56 signatures of the members of the Second Continental Congress. Hancock's signing of the Declaration became just as significant as Congress's votes to approve the measure. However, Hancock was not a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, and he did not sign the United States Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
There were 39 signatures on the US Constitution, but 55 delegates participated in the 1787 Constitutional Convention. This means that 16 men did not sign the Constitution. Of these, only a handful deliberately rejected the substance of the document. Notable delegates who did not sign include Elbridge Gerry (MA), George Mason (VA), and Edmund Randolph (VA).
Some delegates had to leave the Convention early due to personal or business reasons, or health issues. Some delegates were dissatisfied with the final document, citing reasons such as a lack of a Bill of Rights.
No, Thomas Jefferson did not sign the US Constitution. In 1787, he was in Paris serving as the United States' envoy, and so he missed the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
No, Rhode Island did not send any delegates to the Constitutional Convention. It feared that the new federal government would dominate the states and thus rejected the ratification of the Constitution in 1788. Rhode Island finally approved the Constitution on May 29, 1790, by a margin of two votes.
