Who Safeguarded The Constitution After Its Signing?

The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 55 delegates present, 39 endorsed the document, including Benjamin Franklin, who was the oldest signer at 81, and Jonathan Dayton, who was the youngest at 26. The signing of the Constitution marked the end of a four-month-long convention, during which delegates debated, compromised, and drafted a document that would challenge and change the political world. While some delegates chose not to sign due to concerns about its content, the document was endorsed by the states present, and the signers affirmed their unanimous consent.

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The signing of the US Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

During the Convention, delegates from 12 of the 13 states (all except Rhode Island) gathered in Philadelphia to debate, compromise, and draft a new framework for the country's government. The Convention was marked by fierce arguments and challenging compromises, as the delegates represented a wide range of interests and views. One of the most contentious issues was congressional representation, with delegates ultimately agreeing to a compromise that balanced population and equal state representation. They also grappled with the issue of slavery, temporarily resolving to allow the slave trade to continue until 1808.

The final version of the Constitution was produced by the Committee of Style and Arrangement, which condensed 23 articles into seven. On September 17, the delegates met for the last time to sign the document. Of the 55 delegates present, 39 signed the Constitution, including Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer at 81 years old, and Jonathan Dayton, the youngest signer at 26 years old. The signing of the Constitution was a significant moment in American history, as it established a new form of republican government and laid the foundation for the nation's future.

The delegates who chose to sign the Constitution did so with ink and goose quill pens, signifying their endorsement and support for the document. However, it is important to note that not all delegates agreed with every aspect of the Constitution. Some expressed reservations and signed despite their concerns, recognising that the document represented the best outcome achievable at the time. Benjamin Franklin, for instance, acknowledged his disapproval of certain parts but remained open to changing his opinions based on better information or fuller consideration.

The signing of the Constitution was preceded by Benjamin Franklin's final great speech, delivered by his colleague James Wilson. In this address, Franklin strongly endorsed the Constitution, hoping to gain the support of critics and foster a sense of common accord. The Constitution was then endorsed by the delegates as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present. This endorsement included signatures, a declaration of successful completion, and a statement of adoption by the states.

39 delegates out of 55 endorsed the Constitution

The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Out of the 55 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention, 39 endorsed the Constitution. The delegates represented 12 states, with Rhode Island being the only state that refused to send a delegate.

The 39 delegates who endorsed the Constitution included Jonathan Dayton, the youngest signer at 26, and Benjamin Franklin, the oldest at 81. Franklin, a respected statesman and delegate representing Pennsylvania, gave an address endorsing the Constitution despite its imperfections. He proposed that the Constitution be endorsed by the delegates as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present, rather than on behalf of particular states. This proposal was accepted, and the delegates subscribed their names accordingly.

The signing of the Constitution was the culmination of a four-month-long convention that began in May 1787. The delegates debated, compromised, and drafted a document that challenged and changed the political world. They created a powerful central government while addressing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, which had established the first national government. The Articles lacked enforcement powers, could not regulate commerce or print money, and did not effectively manage western territories.

The delegates to the Constitutional Convention ranged in age, background, and views, but they worked together to craft compromises and create a document that met the immediate needs of the thirteen states. The Constitution expanded the power of the central government while protecting the prerogatives of the states. It laid out the framework for the nation's federal government and delineated the functions of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

The endorsement of the Constitution included signatures, a declaration of successful completion, and a statement of adoption by the states present. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note verifying four amendments made to the final document. The closing endorsement, conceived by Gouverneur Morris and presented by Benjamin Franklin, was intentionally ambiguous to win over dissenting delegates.

The youngest signer was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin

The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 55 delegates who participated in the convention, 39 endorsed the Constitution. The youngest of these was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, a delegate from New Jersey. Dayton was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly in 1786-1787 and served in the New Jersey Legislative Council (now the New Jersey Senate) in 1789. He was later elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1791 and served as its third Speaker from 1795 to 1799.

The oldest signer of the Constitution was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81. Franklin was a respected statesman and delegate representing Pennsylvania at the convention. He 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. 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."

The signers of the Constitution subscribed their names as witnesses to what was done in the convention, rather than on behalf of particular states. The signatures were grouped by state, with the listing of states arranged geographically from north to south.

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Some delegates chose not to sign the document, including Edmund Randolph, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry

The US Constitution is one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world. It was the result of a long and arduous process of negotiation and compromise, with delegates representing wildly different interests and views. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39.

Some delegates, however, chose not to sign the document, including Edmund Randolph, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry. These men had valid reasons for their refusal, which are outlined below.

Edmund Randolph, a Founding Father of the United States, attorney, and the seventh Governor of Virginia, played a significant role in drafting the Constitution. He proposed the Virginia Plan, which was eventually revised into the final draft of the Constitution. However, Randolph refused to sign the final document because he wanted increased protections for individuals and did not agree with all the revisions made to his original plan. He believed that it would be easier to amend the Constitution before its ratification than to ratify an imperfect Constitution and then assemble the votes of three-fourths of the states. Nevertheless, Randolph reversed his position at the Virginia Ratifying Convention in 1788, where he voted for ratification because he did not want Virginia to be left out of the new national government.

George Mason, another influential figure in the founding of the United States, also chose not to sign the Constitution. He objected to the lack of a Bill of Rights, which he believed was necessary to adequately protect US citizens. Mason's "Objections to the Constitution" laid the groundwork for the Bill of Rights that followed soon after. Additionally, Mason was a leader of the opposition at the Virginia Ratifying Convention, along with Patrick Henry, and demanded amendments before ratification.

Elbridge Gerry, a Founding Father and governor of Massachusetts, is another notable figure who did not sign the Constitution. Like Randolph and Mason, Gerry shared the view that the Constitution was not perfect and needed amendments. His opposition to the Constitution helped inspire the Bill of Rights. Gerry is also known for approving a controversial redistricting plan, which led to the term "gerrymander," used to describe irregularly shaped districts created to benefit a particular political party.

The signing was witnessed by the delegates as individuals, not on behalf of their states

The signing of the United States Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 55 delegates who attended the convention, 39 endorsed the Constitution, including a declaration that their work had been completed and that they subscribed to the final document. The signing was witnessed by the delegates as individuals, not on behalf of their states. This was a significant departure from the Articles of Confederation, where signers acted on behalf of particular states.

The delegates who signed the Constitution represented 12 of the 13 states, with Rhode Island being the only state that refused to send delegates. The signing ceremony was the culmination of four months of intense debate, compromise, and drafting by the delegates, who crafted a document that challenged and transformed the political landscape. The delegates, representing diverse interests and views, created a powerful central government while remaining loyal to their individual states.

Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer at 81, played a pivotal role in the signing process. Despite his own reservations about certain parts of the Constitution, Franklin proposed that the delegates endorse it as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present. This proposal, crafted with the assistance of Gouverneur Morris, aimed to persuade the three delegates who had refused to sign—Gerry, Mason, and Randolph—to set aside their personal objections and join the consensus.

The signing of the Constitution marked a critical step in the formation of a new government, but the real challenge lay in gaining widespread acceptance and ratification by the American people. The delegates had to work diligently to explain, defend, and promote the Constitution to the states, as it would only come into effect once ratified by nine of the thirteen states. This endeavour proved difficult, as only six of the thirteen states initially reported a pro-Constitution majority.

The United States Constitution stands as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions globally, shaping the country's political and legal landscape for centuries to come.

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