Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 39 delegates representing 12 states endorsed the Constitution, which was created during a four-month-long convention. However, only 38 delegates signed the document, with George Read signing on behalf of John Dickinson, who was ill. Three men, Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph, refused to sign the Constitution due to concerns about the lack of a Bill of Rights and uncertainty over whether it would be approved by the requisite nine states. Several other men, including John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and John Hancock, did not sign the Constitution as they did not accept or could not attend the Constitutional Convention.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of men who didn't sign the Constitution | 36 |
| Number of men who didn't attend the Convention | 20 |
| Names of the three men who refused to sign the Constitution | Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, Edmund Randolph |
| Names of some men who didn't sign the Constitution | John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock, Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Luther Martin, John Mercer |
| States represented by the three men who refused to sign the Constitution | Massachusetts, Virginia |
| Reason for not signing | Unhappy with the final document, wanted a Bill of Rights |
| Age range of the delegates | 26–81 |
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What You'll Learn
Some men didn't attend the Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention, which opened on May 14, 1787, was plagued by attendance issues. The original states, except Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates, collectively appointed 70 individuals to the convention. However, 19 of the 74 delegates to the convention never attended a single session, and of the 55 delegates who did show up in Philadelphia, no more than 30 stayed for the full four months.
Several individuals did not accept or could not attend, including Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock. Thomas Jefferson, who was in Paris as the United States' envoy, missed the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. John Adams also did not sign the Constitution.
Three founders—Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph—refused to sign the Constitution, unhappy with the final document for various reasons, including the lack of a Bill of Rights.
New Hampshire’s delegation arrived two months late, by which time two of New York’s three delegates had left in opposition to the proceedings, leaving just Hamilton behind and depriving the state of a quorum to vote. Thus, Washington wrote that the Constitution was signed by “11 states and Colonel Hamilton.”. In total, 55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention sessions, but only 39, including the Convention’s secretary, William Jackson, actually signed the Constitution.
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Some men left the convention early
The signing of the United States Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (except Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates), endorsed the Constitution. However, several men left the convention early and did not sign the document.
Others left in protest, fearing that the states' rights were not being adequately protected. John Mercer and Luther Martin of Maryland were among those who departed early for this reason. Luther Martin regarded the Constitution as a "stab in the back of the goddess of liberty." He and other delegates, such as Alexander Hamilton, were disappointed by the numerous compromises contained in the final document, believing that they had compromised its quality.
In total, thirteen delegates dropped out of the convention, either for personal reasons or in protest of the decisions made during the deliberations. While some of these men later had their concerns addressed, such as the addition of a Bill of Rights, others likely continued to feel justified in their doubts about the Constitution.
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Some men refused to sign the Constitution
The signing of the United States Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates) endorsed the Constitution. However, a handful of men refused to sign the document.
Of the 70 individuals selected to attend the Constitutional Convention, a number of them could not or chose not to attend. 55 delegates participated in the convention, and 13 of them dropped out, either for personal reasons or in protest over decisions made during the deliberations. Nearly 20 men failed to attend the convention at all, with reasons ranging from health problems to business conflicts.
Some of the men who refused to sign the Constitution include Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph. They participated fully in the Convention but flatly refused to sign the document because they were unhappy with the final draft for various reasons, including a lack of a Bill of Rights. Luther Martin of Maryland also departed early in protest, fearing that the states' rights were not being sufficiently protected. He also thought that the Constitution should take a harder line on slavery.
While some men refused to sign the Constitution, it is important to note that others could not attend the Convention or had to leave early for various reasons. For example, Virginia delegate George Wythe had to return home because his wife was in poor health, but he later supported the Constitution.
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Some men were unable to travel due to health problems
The signing of the United States Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates), endorsed the Constitution. Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest person to sign the Constitution and had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair due to his infirmity.
Several men were unable to travel to the Constitutional Convention due to health problems. Nearly 20 men failed to attend the Convention altogether, and historians know that at least a few of these men had health issues that prevented them from travelling. For example, John Dickinson was ill and authorized George Read to sign his name by proxy. Similarly, Virginia delegate George Wythe had to return home because his wife was in poor health, but he later supported the Constitution.
Some men who did attend the Convention also had health issues. Benjamin Franklin, the oldest delegate at 81, was so infirm that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair. Despite his health issues, Franklin played a crucial role in the Convention, presenting the language of the concluding endorsement, which was cleverly written by Gouverneur Morris to make the Constitution seem unanimous.
The difficulties of travel in those days, as well as concerns about the potential spread of diseases such as smallpox, may have also contributed to the decision of some men to not attend the Convention.
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Some men had conflicting business
John Hancock
As the Governor of Massachusetts, Hancock was preoccupied with state matters and could not attend the convention. He was also concerned about the potential impact of the Constitution on the powers of state governments.
Samuel Adams
Adams, a prominent figure in the American Revolution and a
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Frequently asked questions
Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph refused to sign the US Constitution. Gerry and Mason participated fully in the Convention but flatly refused to sign the document. Randolph, who was worried that the Constitution wouldn't be approved by the requisite nine states, ultimately changed his mind and supported the Constitution.
Edmund Randolph was worried that the Constitution wouldn't be approved by the requisite nine states. Elbridge Gerry and George Mason refused to sign because they were unhappy with the final document.
39 men signed the US Constitution on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The youngest person to sign the Constitution was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26.
The oldest person to sign the Constitution was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who had to be carried to sessions in a sedan chair due to his infirmity.
