Isabella Carter
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the four-page document, which established the government of the United States, was the culmination of a four-month convention that started in May 1787. The convention was attended by 55 delegates, but only 39 signed the Constitution. The delegates who signed the document ranged in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | September 17, 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of Signatories | 39 |
| Age Range of Signatories | 26-81 |
| Notable Signatories | Benjamin Franklin, George Clymer, Robert Morris, George Read, Roger Sherman, James Wilson, James Madison |
| Notable Non-Signatories | Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, John Hancock, Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, Edmund Randolph |
| Purpose | To establish a new form of republican government, replacing the weak central government established by the Articles of Confederation |
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What You'll Learn
- The signing took place on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- delegates signed the Constitution, representing 12 states
- The youngest signer was 26, the oldest was 81
- Notable signatories include George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, and James Wilson
- Three delegates refused to sign the final document
The signing took place on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The signing of the United States Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the Federal Convention. The convention had convened on May 14, 1787, in the State House, now known as Independence Hall, with the goal of revising the Articles of Confederation. However, it soon became clear that a new frame of government was needed, and the delegates began drafting a new constitution.
The Constitutional Convention was attended by 55 delegates, representing 12 of the 13 original states. Rhode Island was the only state that did not send any delegates. The delegates ranged in age, with the youngest being 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest being 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, who was in poor health and had to be carried to the sessions.
The final draft of the Constitution was presented to the convention on September 12, 1787, and it was signed five days later on September 17. Of the 55 delegates who attended the convention, only 39 signed the Constitution. The signing took place in a closed meeting room, and the document established the government of the United States.
The signing was preceded by a speech from Benjamin Franklin, who made a powerful argument for the new Constitution. Franklin acknowledged that there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of at present, but he left open the possibility that he might approve of them in the future. He also made the final motion to sign the document, which was approved by 10 of the state delegations.
The Constitution was then carried to Congress in New York City by the convention's secretary, William Jackson, along with two letters. One of the letters was a resolution for Congress to distribute to the states for their approval or disapproval. The other letter was written by George Washington, the first President of the United States, who was also present at the signing of the Constitution.
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39 delegates signed the Constitution, representing 12 states
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall) in Philadelphia. The signing of the document marked the culmination of the Constitutional Convention, which had begun in May of the same year. The Convention was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had established a weak central government. However, it became clear by mid-June that a new frame of government was needed, and a new constitution was drafted.
The Constitutional Convention was attended by 55 delegates, representing 12 of the 13 original states. Rhode Island was the only state that did not send any delegates. Of the 55 attendees, 39 signed the Constitution. 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 signing of the Constitution was preceded by a debate, in which three delegates—Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph—objected to the final version of the Constitution and refused to sign it. Gouverneur Morris and Alexander Hamilton argued that the delegates needed to sign the document. Franklin, in poor health, made a persuasive speech introducing a motion for the delegates to sign the Constitution. He acknowledged that there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of but accepted it because he "expected no better". Following Franklin's speech, the motion to sign the document was approved by 10 of the state delegations.
The final document was engrossed by Jacob Shallus and was signed during the Convention's final session on September 17, 1787. 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.
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The youngest signer was 26, the oldest was 81
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Out of the 39 delegates who signed the Constitution, the youngest was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin.
The delegates, who represented 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates), endorsed the Constitution during the four-month-long convention. The signing of the Constitution was the final step in a process that began with the Constitutional Convention in May 1787. The convention was convened to revise the Articles of Confederation, but it soon became clear that a new frame of government was needed.
The final draft of the Constitution, presented to the convention on September 12, 1787, contained seven articles, a preamble, and a closing statement. The language of the closing statement, presented by Benjamin Franklin, was intentionally ambiguous to win over the votes of dissenting delegates. This strategy was employed to make the Constitution seem unanimous, as it was feared that many delegates would refuse to give their individual assent.
The youngest signer, Jonathan Dayton, was 26 years old at the time. He was one of the delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention. On the other hand, Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer at 81, was so infirm that he had to be carried to the sessions in a sedan chair. Despite his advanced age, Franklin played a crucial role in the process, presenting the final document to the convention.
The age gap between the youngest and oldest signers, Jonathan Dayton and Benjamin Franklin, spanned 55 years. This range highlights the diversity of the Founding Fathers who came together to shape the nation's future.
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Notable signatories include George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, and James Wilson
The U.S. Constitution was signed by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, out of 55 attendees. Notable signatories include George Clymer, Benjamin Franklin, and James Wilson.
George Clymer (1739-1813) was an American politician and founding father. He was a Pennsylvania representative and, along with five others, was a signatory of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. In 1784, Clymer was summoned to take part in the general assembly of Pennsylvania, continuing as a member until the meeting of the convention to form a more efficient Constitution for the general government. After the adoption of the Constitution, he represented Pennsylvania in Congress for two years.
Benjamin Franklin (aged 81 in 1787) was the oldest of the signatories. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and gave a speech in which he expressed his doubts about the Constitution, but ultimately agreed to sign it, stating that he did not "expect any better".
James Wilson (1742-1798) was a colonial American lawyer, political theorist, and founding father. He immigrated to North America in 1765 and taught Greek and rhetoric in the College of Philadelphia before studying law under John Dickinson. Wilson signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. During the Constitutional Convention in 1787, he helped draft the U.S. Constitution and subsequently led the fight for its ratification in Pennsylvania.
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Three delegates refused to sign the final document
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates). The delegates, including Benjamin Franklin, who was 81 years old and infirm, endorsed the Constitution during the four-month-long convention.
Three delegates, Edmund J. Randolph, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry, refused to sign the final document. Randolph, from Virginia, gave a brief speech explaining his refusal, stating that signing would imply support, and he did not approve of the Constitution as it was. He believed that presenting the document to the American people without the option to amend it would cause the "anarchy and civil convulsions" that the signers wanted to avoid. Mason, also from Virginia, and Gerry from Massachusetts, gave similar speeches.
The delegates' refusal to sign was significant, as they had strong objections to the Constitution as it was presented. They believed that their signatures would indicate a full endorsement of the document, and they wanted to see changes made. This highlights the importance of the delegates' role in shaping the country's future and their commitment to ensuring that the Constitution reflected their values and beliefs.
The final document was signed despite these objections, and the Convention adjourned for the final time. The signatures, however, did not carry any legal weight. The refusal of these three delegates to sign the Constitution demonstrates the complexity and diversity of opinions during the Constitutional Convention. It also underscores the importance of individual conscience and the desire to create a strong and enduring framework for the nation's government.
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Frequently asked questions
39 men signed the Constitution in 1787.
The youngest person to sign the Constitution was 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton, and the oldest was 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin.
Some of the notable people who did not sign the Constitution in 1787 were Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, John Hancock, Edmund Randolph, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry.
The Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall.
