Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 74 delegates chosen to represent 12 states (all except Rhode Island) at the Constitutional Convention, 55 attended and 39 signed the document. The signatures were grouped by states, listed geographically from north to south. The oldest signer was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, who summed up the sentiments of those who signed the document by saying, There are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. The painting 'Signing of the Constitution' by Howard Chandler Christy is on display in the east grand stairway of the House wing in the U.S. Capitol.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of signatures | 39 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Date | September 17, 1787 |
| Signatories | Delegates to the Constitutional Convention |
| Represented States | 12 out of 13 states (all except Rhode Island) |
| Youngest Signer | Jonathan Dayton (aged 26) |
| Oldest Signer | Benjamin Franklin (aged 81) |
| First Signer to Die | Benjamin Franklin (in April 1790) |
| Last Signer to Die | James Madison (in June 1836) |
| Notable Signatures | John Dickinson (by proxy, due to illness), George Washington near the right margin, starting a second column of signatures |
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What You'll Learn
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 document took place during the Constitutional Convention, which started in May 1787 in Pennsylvania's State House, now known as Independence Hall. The Constitutional Convention featured many of the great minds of the day, including James Madison, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris, and, for a while, Alexander Hamilton. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and John Hancock were among those who were absent.
The Constitutional Convention was a four-month-long gathering of 55 delegates representing 12 states (all except Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates). These delegates were tasked with creating a new form of republican government to replace the weak central government established by the Articles of Confederation. The convention was presided over by George Washington.
On the final day of the convention, Benjamin Franklin, who was 81 years old at the time, delivered an address endorsing the Constitution. Franklin, who was in poor health, wrote a speech that was read by James Wilson to the other delegates. In his speech, Franklin acknowledged that while he did not approve of every part of the Constitution, he would accept it because he did not expect better and was unsure if a better one could be created. He then made a motion to sign the document, which was approved by 10 of the state delegations.
Following the debate, 39 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Read signing for an absent John Dickinson. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, also signed the document to authenticate some corrections. The signatures were grouped by state, with the listing of states arranged geographically from north to south. The signing of the United States Constitution marked the conclusion of the convention and the beginning of the process to send the document to the Confederation Congress for ratification by the states.
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Who signed the Constitution?
The United States Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, is a significant document in the history of the country, and the signatures on this document are of great importance. The question of who signed the Constitution is not as simple as it may seem, as the process of drafting and ratifying the document was complex and involved many individuals. The answer lies in understanding the process of the Constitutional Convention and the subsequent ratification process.
To begin with, it is important to note that the Constitution was signed by 39 delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. These delegates represented 12 states, as Rhode Island declined to send representatives. The signatures on the document include some of the most prominent and influential figures in American history, including George Washington, who presided over the Convention as its president, and James Madison, often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution" due to his significant contributions.
Among the signers were lawyers, merchants, farmers, and statesmen, each bringing their own unique perspective and experience to the creation of the nation's governing document. The signatures are a testament to the collaborative effort and compromise that went into drafting the Constitution. It is worth noting that three delegates who attended the Convention refused to sign: Edmund Randolph and George Mason of Virginia, and Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts. They had their own reasons for dissenting, including concerns over the lack of a bill of rights and the power given to the central government.
The process of ratification, where states approved and adopted the Constitution, is also an important part of the story. After the Constitutional Convention, the document was sent to the states for ratification, and it was during this process that a Bill of Rights was demanded and eventually added through amendments. The ratification process began with Delaware on December 7, 1787, and ended with Rhode Island on May 29, 1790, bringing the total number of ratifying states to 13. While the delegates who signed the document at the Convention played a crucial role, the ratification by the states was essential to the Constitution becoming the supreme law of the land.
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Why did they sign it?
The signing of the United States Constitution by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787, was a significant event in the nation's history. But why did these men, now known as the Founding Fathers, sign this document?
The Constitution was created to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty for the people. These objectives were outlined in the Preamble and provided a clear direction for the new nation. By signing the Constitution, the Founding Fathers demonstrated their agreement with these principles and their commitment to creating a stronger, more unified nation.
Many of the signers had also experienced the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first governing document, which had created a loose confederation of states with a weak central government. The Articles had proven ineffective, as the central government lacked the power to regulate commerce, collect taxes, or raise an army. The states often acted in their own self-interest, leading to economic and political instability. The Founding Fathers recognized the need for a stronger central government that could address these issues and signed the Constitution to establish one.
Additionally, the Constitution addressed concerns about individual liberties and state sovereignty. The Founding Fathers sought to balance the power of the central government with the rights of the states and the people. By signing the Constitution, they endorsed a system of checks and balances that distributed power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, ensuring that no one branch would become too powerful. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, further guaranteed individual liberties and rights, addressing the concerns of those who feared a strong central government.
In signing the Constitution, the Founding Fathers displayed their courage and foresight. They understood that the document might not be perfect, but it provided a framework for a stable and prosperous nation. They also recognized that the Constitution could be amended as needed, ensuring its adaptability to future challenges and changes. Their signatures represented a commitment to the principles of democracy, liberty, and unity, and their faith in the ability of the American people to govern themselves under this new system.
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What did it mean?
The signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, marked a significant step towards establishing a more perfect union and securing the blessings of liberty for the nation. The 39 delegates who endorsed the Constitution represented a diverse cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in military and government service. The signatures of these individuals served as a testament to their commitment to creating a workable framework for the nation's federal government and delineating the functions of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
The signing of the Constitution was not without its controversies and hesitations. Benjamin Franklin, the oldest signer at 81 years old, acknowledged that there were parts of the Constitution he did not approve of but accepted it nonetheless, hoping that it would meet the immediate needs of the thirteen states and their approximately four million inhabitants. Franklin's sentiments were shared by others, and the closing endorsement of the Constitution served as an authentication of the document's validity rather than an assignment of powers to the federal government or a limitation on its actions.
The signatures of the delegates carried weight and significance. By inscribing their names, the signers subscribed their names as witnesses to the unanimous consent of the states present, rather than on behalf of particular states. This distinction was important as it represented a unified endorsement of the document. The signing also included a brief declaration stating that the delegates' work had been successfully completed and that those who signed subscribed to the final document.
The United States Constitution, with its seven articles and 27 amendments, including the Bill of Rights, laid out the framework for the nation's government and the protection of individual liberties. The signatures of the 39 delegates who endorsed it signified their agreement to form a more perfect union, establish justice, and secure the blessings of liberty for the United States of America.
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Where did it happen?
The signing of the United States Constitution took place on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The hall was then known as the Pennsylvania State House.
Independence Hall was the meeting place of Congress at the time. It was where 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states, endorsed the Constitution. The 12 states represented were the original states excluding Rhode Island, which did not send any delegates.
The 39 signatories were a subset of the 55 delegates who participated in the convention. The remaining 16 delegates either dropped out or refused to sign. The signatories included John Dickinson, who was ill and so authorised George Read to sign on his behalf, and George Washington, who, as president of the Convention, signed first.
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Frequently asked questions
John Hancock signed the United States Declaration of Independence with a large, flamboyant signature, which became iconic.
John Hancock was the Congress President when the United States Declaration of Independence was signed.
Future presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were among the 56 signatories.
No, eight delegates never signed the Declaration, including John Dickinson, who refused to sign as he believed it was premature.
There is no evidence that anyone signed the US Constitution with a big signature. However, George Washington signed near the right margin of the page, and when the delegates ran out of space, they began a second column of signatures to the left.
