Eleanor Finch
The signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, marked a pivotal moment in the nation's history. 39 delegates, representing 12 states, endorsed the Constitution, signifying their support and that of their respective states. Among these delegates, Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, stood out as the oldest signer. Franklin, a respected statesman, summed up the sentiments of many by expressing cautious optimism and acknowledging that while there were parts of the Constitution he did not approve of, he remained open to changing his opinion over time. The signing ceremony culminated a four-month-long convention, during which the delegates engaged in debates, compromises, and drafting to create a new American government.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Benjamin Franklin's speech
On September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states, endorsed the Constitution. Benjamin Franklin, at 81, was the oldest of the delegates. Franklin, in his address, strongly endorsed the Constitution despite any perceived imperfections. The purpose of his speech was to convince the three delegates who had announced their refusal to sign the Constitution— Gerry (MA), Randolph (VA), and Mason (VA)—to abandon their opposition.
Franklin began his speech on a note of humility, stating:
> "I confess that there are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that, the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others."
He further added:
> "There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them."
Franklin accepted the Constitution, stating:
> "because I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."
Despite multiple speeches, including Franklin's longest speech of the Convention, where he stated that the Constitution was "near to perfection," Gerry, Randolph, and Mason refused to sign the United States Constitution.
Who Signed the Constitution? Benjamin Franklin's Signature Explained
You may want to see also
Signing by proxy
The signing of the United States Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was when 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates), endorsed the Constitution. This endorsement included a brief declaration that the delegates' work had been successfully completed and that those signing subscribed to the final document. It also included a statement pronouncing the document's adoption by the states present and a formulaic dating of its adoption.
The signing of the Constitution was a significant moment in American history, as it laid out the framework for the nation's federal government and delineated how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) would function. The delegates who signed represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local or colonial and state government. The signing of the Constitution was the culmination of a four-month-long convention, during which the delegates debated, compromised, and drafted a document that challenged and changed the political world.
Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer at 81, summed up the sentiments of those who did sign, stating: "There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them." He accepted the Constitution because he "expected no better" and felt it was "not sure that it is not the best". Franklin's address, read by James Wilson, strongly endorsed the Constitution despite its imperfections, in the hopes of gaining the support of critics and creating a sense of common accord.
Signing Statements: Constitutional or Executive Overreach?
You may want to see also
Rhode Island's absence
The absence of Rhode Island's delegates from the Constitutional Convention in 1787 is a notable aspect of the signing of the United States Constitution. Rhode Island was the only state out of the original thirteen that did not send representatives to the Convention, where 39 delegates from the other twelve states endorsed and signed the Constitution.
Rhode Island's non-participation in the Constitutional Convention can be attributed to its strong commitment to state sovereignty and independence. The state had a history of resisting external authority and had previously boycotted the Second Continental Congress during the American Revolution. This resistance continued even after the Convention, as Rhode Island became the last of the original thirteen states to ratify the Constitution, doing so on May 29, 1790.
The absence of Rhode Island's delegates at the Constitutional Convention is significant because it highlights the state's unique perspective on central governance. Rhode Island had a strong tradition of self-governance and local control, which influenced its reluctance to engage in the process of creating a stronger federal government. This stance set it apart from the other states, which recognised the need for a unified national framework.
Additionally, Rhode Island's absence from the Constitutional Convention had implications for the state's representation in the newly formed nation. By not participating in the drafting and signing of the Constitution, Rhode Island missed the opportunity to shape the document and ensure its interests were adequately addressed. This absence may have contributed to a sense of alienation from the rest of the country, as the state grappled with how to fit into the emerging American republic.
Despite Rhode Island's initial reluctance to engage with the Constitutional process, the state eventually recognised the importance of joining the Union. The ratification of the Constitution by Rhode Island in 1790 marked a shift in the state's perspective, acknowledging the necessity of a unified nation under a federal government. This evolution in Rhode Island's stance demonstrates the complex dynamics of state-federal relations during the formative years of the United States.
Ben Franklin's Signature on the US Constitution
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The oldest and youngest signers
> "There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. I expect no better, and because I am not sure that it is not the best."
Franklin was the first signer to die, passing away in April 1790. Jonathan Dayton, the youngest signer, was 26 years old at the signing.
The signing of the United States Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 74 delegates chosen, 55 attended and 39 signed. The delegates represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local or colonial and state government.
The Constitution's Signing: Congress Adjournment Date and History
You may want to see also
The signing painting
The Signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, is immortalized in the painting "Signing of the Constitution" by Howard Chandler Christy. The painting, commissioned in 1939 as part of the 150th anniversary of the Constitution, depicts the historic moment when 39 delegates endorsed the Constitution at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The painting, measuring 20 by 30 feet, is a framed oil-on-canvas scene and is considered one of the best-known images in the United States Capitol. It hangs prominently in the east grand stairway of the House wing, where its bright and airy colours and impressionistic brushwork stand out among the other historical paintings. Christy, a renowned illustrator and portrait painter of his time, dedicated five years of research and seven months of painting to create this masterpiece.
The painting depicts George Washington, the president of the Convention, as the most prominent figure. Washington stands on a platform next to Richard Spaight of North Carolina, who is in the act of signing the document. Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, is seated in the centre, with Alexander Hamilton leaning towards him. James Madison, the last signer to pass away, appears farther to the right. The flags represented in the painting include the Stars and Stripes, regimental colours from Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and a flag from a Maryland dragoon regiment.
The sketch for the painting was created by Christy in Independence Hall, at the same time of day as the signing, to accurately capture the sunlight's angle in the room with its glass chandelier. The books beside Franklin's chair were borrowed from Thomas Jefferson's library, acknowledging his significance in the Constitutional process. The painting, with its hand-carved and gold-leaf finished frame, was dedicated in the Rotunda of the Capitol in May 1940 and remained on view for 16 months.
The California Constitution: Signed, Sealed, and Delivered
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There is no evidence to suggest that anyone cried while signing the Constitution.
Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer at 81, was cautiously optimistic about the Constitution, stating: "There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them." He accepted the Constitution because he "expected no better" and thought it was "not sure that it is not the best".
Signing the Constitution was a way for delegates to show their support and endorsement of the document. It also served as a way to authenticate its validity.
Out of the 55 delegates present at the convention, 39 signed the Constitution.
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
