Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing of the US Constitution marked the end of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation, which had provided for a loose confederation of US states. The US Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting foreign relations. The document outlines the system of government and the rights of the American people, and it has been amended 27 times since it became operational in 1789.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | September 17, 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of Signatures | 39 |
| Number of Delegates Present | 42 |
| Number of Delegates Who Refused to Sign | 3 |
| Number of States Represented | 12 |
| Number of States Not Represented | 1 (Rhode Island) |
| Age of Youngest Signer | 26 (Jonathan Dayton) |
| Age of Oldest Signer | 81 (Benjamin Franklin) |
| Type of Government | Federal |
| Branches of Government | Legislative, Executive, and Judicial |
| Number of Amendments | 27 |
| First Ten Amendments | The Bill of Rights |
| Amendments 13-15 | The Reconstruction Amendments |
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What You'll Learn
The signing of the US Constitution
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing took place at the conclusion of the four-month-long Constitutional Convention, which had been convened to address the weaknesses of the existing government under the Articles of Confederation.
The Constitutional Convention was attended by 55 of the 74 chosen delegates, representing 12 of the 13 states (all except Rhode Island). Of these, 39 delegates signed the Constitution, including a brief declaration that their work had been successfully completed and that they subscribed to the final document. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note verifying four amendments made by hand to the document and signed it to authenticate its validity.
The U.S. Constitution lays out the framework for the nation's federal government and delineates the functions of its three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The delegates who signed the Constitution represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership, with experience in local, colonial, or state government. Virtually all of them had taken part in the American Revolution, with seven having signed the Declaration of Independence and 30 having served on active military duty.
The signing of the Constitution was preceded by a speech written by Benjamin Franklin and delivered by his colleague, James Wilson. Franklin, the oldest signer at 81 years old, appealed for unity behind the Constitution, acknowledging that while it had imperfections, it was a practical and workable solution that could meet the immediate needs of the states. Jonathan Dayton, at 26 years old, was the youngest signer.
The Constitution came into effect in 1789 after it was ratified by the necessary nine out of 13 states. It superseded the Articles of Confederation as the nation's constitution and has been amended 27 times since it became operational. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and offer specific protections of individual liberties and justice, as well as restrictions on the powers of the government.
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The 39 delegates who signed
The US Constitution was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The signing marked the conclusion of the four-month-long Constitutional Convention, which aimed to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and establish a stronger federal government.
Benjamin Franklin, despite his reservations about the document, played a pivotal role in gaining support for the Constitution. He delivered an address, read by James Wilson, strongly endorsing the Constitution and proposing that the delegates sign as individual witnesses of the unanimous consent of the states. This proposal was accepted, and the delegates subscribed their names accordingly.
The 39 signatures were accompanied by a brief declaration stating that the delegates' work had been successfully completed and that they subscribed to the final document. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note verifying four amendments made by hand to the document and signed to authenticate its validity.
The US Constitution, which came into effect in 1789, superseded the Articles of Confederation and established a federal government with three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. It outlined the system of government and the rights of the American people, and it has been amended 27 times since its ratification to expand upon and protect these rights.
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The role of the signers
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, representing 12 states (all but Rhode Island, which declined to send delegates), endorsed the Constitution. The delegates who signed the Constitution were individuals with experience in local, colonial, or state government, and almost all of them had participated in the American Revolution.
The signers of the Constitution represented a cross-section of 18th-century American leadership. Seven of them had signed the Declaration of Independence, and thirty had served on active military duty. The youngest signer was Jonathan Dayton, aged 26, and the oldest was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81. Franklin, despite having his own reservations about the document, appealed for unity behind 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...I expect no better and because I am not sure that it is not the best."
The signers of the Constitution played a crucial role in the formation of the United States federal government. Their signatures authenticated the document, and their diverse backgrounds and experiences ensured that the Constitution represented a consensus among the states. The signers' role in witnessing and endorsing the Constitution helped establish it as the framework for the nation's government and the functioning of its three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
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The US Constitution's amendments
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of the 74 delegates chosen to represent the 12 states present, 39 signed the document. The US Constitution has since been amended 27 times.
The US Constitution Amendments
The authority to amend the US Constitution is derived from Article V of the Constitution. Amendments can be proposed by Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the state legislatures. Once an amendment is proposed by Congress, the Archivist of the United States is responsible for administering the ratification process. An amendment becomes part of the Constitution when it is ratified by three-quarters of the states (38 out of 50).
The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were added to the Constitution in 1791 and offer specific protections of individual liberty and justice, as well as placing restrictions on the powers of the government within US states. The majority of the 17 later amendments expand individual civil rights protections, while others address issues related to federal authority or modify government processes and procedures.
Amendments to the US Constitution are appended to the original document, which remains otherwise unchanged. The first ten amendments introduced were:
- First Amendment: Fundamental Freedoms
- Second Amendment: Right to Bear Arms
- Third Amendment: Quartering Soldiers
- Fourth Amendment: Searches and Seizures
- Fifth Amendment: Rights of Persons
- Sixth Amendment: Rights in Criminal Prosecutions
- Seventh Amendment: Civil Trial Rights
- Eighth Amendment: Cruel and Unusual Punishment
- Ninth Amendment: Unenumerated Rights
- Tenth Amendment: Rights Reserved to the States and the People
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The US Constitution today
The US Constitution has been amended 27 times since it became operational in 1789. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, protect individual liberty and justice and restrict the powers of the government. The majority of the 17 later amendments expand individual civil rights protections, address issues related to federal authority, or modify government processes and procedures.
The US Constitution outlines the nation's federal government and how its three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) should function. The legislative branch consists of the bicameral Congress, the executive branch consists of the President and subordinate officers, and the judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The Constitution has been interpreted, supplemented, and implemented by a large body of federal constitutional law, influencing the constitutions of other nations. It has also been the subject of debate and criticism, with some questioning its effectiveness in protecting people's rights.
The Supreme Court has played a significant role in interpreting the Constitution, such as in the case of the Second Amendment, which centres on gun control legislation, and the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments, which abolished slavery and established citizenship, equal protection, and voting rights for all persons born or naturalized in the United States.
The US Constitution remains a living document, open to interpretation and amendment, shaping the nation's government and the rights of its citizens.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was signed by 39 delegates at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on September 1787.
The US Constitution is the foundation of the American government, outlining the system of government and the rights of the American people. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789.
The US Constitution consists of a Preamble, Articles, and Amendments. The Preamble outlines the purpose of the document, while the Articles detail the organisation of the government and the process for amending the Constitution. The Amendments make changes to the Constitution, with the first ten known as the Bill of Rights, protecting individual liberties and justice.
The US Constitution required ratification by nine of the 13 states to become binding. Beginning in December 1787, five states—Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut—quickly ratified it. However, other states, particularly Massachusetts, opposed it due to concerns over a lack of protection for political rights. A compromise was reached, and by June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify. The Constitution came into effect on March 4, 1789.
The framers of the Constitution faced several challenges, including balancing the representation of large and small states and addressing weaknesses in the previous system under the Articles of Confederation, such as a weak central government and challenges in conducting foreign policy. They created a bicameral legislative branch, giving equal representation to each state in the Senate and population-based representation in the House of Representatives. They also established an executive branch and a judicial branch to create a system of checks and balances.
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