Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution was signed by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates). The signing took place on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The delegates ranged in age from 26-year-old Jonathan Dayton to 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin. The signatures of the 39 signers are a matter of historical record and can be viewed today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | September 17, 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of Signatures | 39 |
| Number of Delegates | 55 |
| Number of States Represented | 12 |
| Youngest Signer | Jonathan Dayton, aged 26 |
| Oldest Signer | Benjamin Franklin, aged 81 |
| First Signer | George Washington, as president of the Convention |
| Signatures Grouped By | States, from north to south |
| Notable Signers | George Read, Gunning Bedford Jr., James Madison Jr. |
| Notable Non-Signers | Edmund Randolph, George Mason, Elbridge Gerry |
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What You'll Learn
The Signing of the United States Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the United States Constitution marked the conclusion of a four-month-long convention, during which 55 delegates debated, compromised, and drafted a document that would challenge and change the political world. The Constitution laid out the framework for the nation's federal government and delineated the functions of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
Of the 55 delegates who participated in the convention, 13 dropped out, and 39 signed the final document. The signatures were grouped by state, with the listing of states arranged geographically from north to south. The signing of the Constitution was not a ratification, but rather an endorsement by the delegates as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states present. This endorsement included a brief declaration that the delegates' work had been successfully completed and that those whose signatures appeared subscribed to the final document.
Among the 39 signatories was John Dickinson, who, due to illness, authorised George Read to sign on his behalf. George Washington, as president of the Convention, signed first, and the remaining delegates followed, grouped by their respective states. Benjamin Franklin, at 81 years old, was the oldest signer, and he delivered an address strongly endorsing the Constitution despite its imperfections. Franklin's sentiments were shared by many of the signers, who understood that while the document may not have been perfect, it was the best that could be achieved at the time.
The process of drafting and signing the United States Constitution was a remarkable achievement in human history. The document, at fewer than 5,000 words, has rarely been amended and continues to stand the test of time. The signatories of the Constitution represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, and state government, as well as military service. The signing of the Constitution was a significant moment in the history of the United States, establishing the framework for the nation's government and paving the way for its future.
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Those who signed
On September 17, 1787, 39 delegates signed the United States Constitution, which was then sent to the states for ratification. The signing took place at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 39 signatures included the convention's secretary, William Jackson, who added a note verifying four handwritten amendments to the final document.
The 39 delegates represented 12 states, with Rhode Island being the only state that did not send any delegates to the convention. The delegates who signed the Constitution were loyal to their states and wary of centralised power. They crafted compromises to accommodate the different interests and views of the states they represented.
Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest signer of the Constitution. He was a respected statesman and delegate representing Pennsylvania. Franklin delivered an address strongly endorsing the Constitution, despite its imperfections. He summed up the sentiments of those who signed, expressing that while they may not approve of everything in the document, they hoped it would serve the immediate needs of the nation.
Other notable signers include George Read, an attorney and politician from Delaware, who proposed abolishing individual state governments and establishing a central government. Gunning Bedford, Jr., also a lawyer from Delaware, shared Read's concerns about the protection of smaller states and the limitations of central government power. Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, was the youngest signer of the Constitution.
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Those who didn't sign
The signing of the United States Constitution occurred on September 17, 1787, when 39 delegates endorsed the document. However, several people did not sign the Constitution, either because they chose not to or because they could not attend.
Of the 74 individuals selected to attend the Constitutional Convention, 55 attended, and 39 signed. Several attendees left before the signing ceremony, and three of the 42 who remained refused to sign. Those who refused to sign were Elbridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph. They were unhappy with the final document, citing reasons such as a lack of a Bill of Rights.
Additionally, 13 delegates dropped out before the signing, either for personal reasons or in protest of decisions made during the deliberations. Some of the notable individuals who did not sign the Constitution include Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock. Thomas Jefferson, for example, was in Paris as the United States' envoy and missed the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Similarly, John Adams was in London as the United States minister to Great Britain.
It is also worth noting that while George Washington, as president of the Convention, signed the document, he did so in a different manner than the other delegates. Washington signed near the right margin of the page, and when space ran out, the delegates began a second column of signatures to the left.
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The signing ceremony
The signing of the United States Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing ceremony marked the endorsement of the Constitution by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates). This ceremony was the culmination of a four-month-long convention where the Constitution was debated and crafted.
The delegates' signatures served as their endorsement of the Constitution and signified their unanimous consent to the document. The signatures also included a declaration that the delegates' work had been successfully completed and that those signing the document agreed with its contents. The signing ceremony was a significant event, as it authenticated the validity of the Constitution and represented the collective agreement of the states present.
The convention's secretary, William Jackson, played a crucial role in the signing ceremony. He added a note verifying four amendments made by hand to the final document and signed it to authenticate its validity. Jackson was also responsible for carrying the Constitution to Congress in New York City after the Constitutional Convention adjourned.
The signing of the Constitution was a solemn and momentous occasion. Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer at 81, summed up the sentiments of those who signed, acknowledging that while there were parts of the Constitution they might not approve, they accepted it as the best option for the nation. Franklin's address, read by James Wilson, strongly endorsed the Constitution and sought to unite the delegates in support of the document.
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The ratification process
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 were aware of this decade-long struggle to amend the Articles of Confederation. The Convention's initial purpose was to amend the Articles, but the outcome was the proposal and creation of a new form of government. The Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and lasted four months, from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The final document was signed by 39 delegates, representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island).
After signing the Constitution, the delegates sent it to the states for ratification. The delegates had decided that nine of the 13 states would need to ratify the Constitution for it to be accepted as the nation's founding document. This decision was influenced by the fact that nine states were required in the Confederation Congress to adopt important matters. The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, making it the official framework of the US government.
All 13 states eventually ratified the Constitution by May 29, 1790. The ratification of the Constitution was celebrated with the first national day of Thanksgiving, designated by President George Washington on November 26, 1789.
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Frequently asked questions
39 delegates signed the United States Constitution.
Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, was the youngest signer of the Constitution.
Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, was the oldest signer of the Constitution.
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787.
The Constitution was signed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
