Isabella Carter
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by 39 delegates representing 12 states. The signing of the Constitution was the culmination of a four-month-long convention that began in May 1787, with delegates debating, compromising, and drafting the document that would challenge and change the political world. The final draft, presented on September 12, was a compromise that incorporated elements of both the Virginia Plan, favoured by larger states, and the New Jersey Plan, preferred by smaller states. While some delegates chose not to sign the Constitution due to concerns about its lack of a Bill of Rights, others, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison, endorsed it despite their reservations, recognising it as the best that could be achieved at the time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | 17 September 1787 |
| Location | Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Number of signatures | 39 |
| Number of delegates present | 55 |
| Number of states represented | 12 |
| State with no signatures | Rhode Island |
| Notable signatories | George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris |
| Notable non-signatories | Edmund Randolph, George Mason, Elbridge Gerry |
| Reason for non-signature | Concerns about lack of protection for certain freedoms |
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What You'll Learn
The Virginia Plan
The debate between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan eventually led to the Connecticut Compromise, crafted by delegates Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut. This compromise incorporated elements of both plans, including the three-fifths rule from the New Jersey Plan, and created a House of Representatives apportioned by population and a Senate in which each state is equally represented.
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George Mason
Mason was the primary author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Constitution of Virginia, also known as the Virginia Plan. The Virginia Declaration of Rights, adopted in 1776, served as a model for other state constitutions and influenced the official US Constitution. In it, Mason drew on social compact theory, the legacy of British constitutionalism, and the insights of his time. He advocated for a system with multiple branches and levels, outlining the powers of each part of the government and establishing important principles such as the separation of powers.
During the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, Mason was a delegate and played an active role in the debates and discussions. However, he refused to sign the final document, the US Constitution, due to his objection that it did not include a Bill of Rights to guarantee individual liberties. He believed that the Constitution gave too much power to a central government and that it was incomplete without a Bill of Rights. Mason's refusal to sign was not due to a lack of agreement with everything in the document, but rather a strong stance on certain issues.
Mason's dissent also arose from his perception that the Convention was not dealing harshly enough with the institution of slavery, although he himself held slaves. His refusal to sign cost him friendships, including that of Washington, and to some extent, his rightful place in history. Nonetheless, Mason played an important role in ensuring that the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution by the First Congress in 1791, just a year before his death.
Mason's legacy is honoured by Virginia's largest university, which bears his name, ensuring that his contributions to the guarantee of individual freedom are not forgotten.
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Edmund Randolph
As a delegate from Virginia to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Randolph introduced the Virginia Plan, which outlined a new national government. The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature, with both houses having delegates chosen based on state population, and a strong central government. Randolph also proposed the establishment of a national judiciary, which was unanimously supported by the convention's delegates and became Article III of the US Constitution, establishing the federal court system.
Despite his significant contributions, Randolph did not sign the final draft of the Constitution. He believed that the government outlined in the Constitution was too strong, calling it "the foetus of a monarchy." He wanted increased protections for individuals and disagreed with some of the revisions made to the original Virginia Plan. Randolph thought the final document lacked sufficient checks and balances, particularly regarding the power of the Senate and Congress, and the potential threat of the federal judiciary to state courts.
Randolph published an account of his objections in October 1787. However, he later reversed his position at the Virginia Ratifying Convention in 1788, where he chaired a nearly equally divided convention. He ultimately voted for the ratification of the Constitution, as he did not want Virginia to be left out of the new national government.
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Compromises in the final document
The final draft of the US Constitution was signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This came after four months of debate, compromise, and drafting, with 55 delegates present at the convention. The signing of the document was preceded by an address from Benjamin Franklin, endorsing the Constitution despite its imperfections. This was followed by a proposal from Franklin, which the convention agreed upon, that the Constitution be endorsed by the delegates as individual witnesses of unanimous consent from the states present.
The final document was a compromise in itself, with several delegates disappointed by the concessions it contained. Alexander Hamilton, for instance, called the Constitution a "weak and worthless fabric", while Luther Martin saw it as a betrayal of the goddess of liberty. Despite these concerns, the majority of delegates, including Benjamin Franklin, agreed that the Constitution was the best that could be achieved at the time.
The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, was a significant compromise incorporated into the final document. Crafted by Oliver Ellsworth and Roger Sherman, it combined elements of the Virginia Plan, favoured by larger states, and the New Jersey Plan, preferred by smaller states. The Compromise proposed a bicameral legislature, consisting of a House of Representatives with a population-based number of delegates, and a Senate with two members from each state. This compromise addressed the struggle between small and large states, which had hindered the success of the convention.
Another compromise included in the final document was the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted three-fifths of the total number of non-citizens from each state towards the population. This rule was also part of the Connecticut Compromise. Additionally, the final document did not include specific statements of rights protected, which was a concern for some delegates. While the Constitution did not initially include a Bill of Rights, there were already plans to add amendments to outline and protect individual freedoms.
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Benjamin Franklin's endorsement
Benjamin Franklin, a respected statesman and delegate representing Pennsylvania at the Constitutional Convention, was cautious but optimistic about the Constitution. He acknowledged that while there were parts of the Constitution that he did not approve of, he was open to changing his opinion with better information and fuller consideration. In his own words, he said:
> "I confess that 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, the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others."
Franklin further expressed his support for the Constitution by stating that he was astonished by how close to perfection the system was, despite the various interests and biases of the men involved in its creation. He believed that a general government was necessary and that the Constitution could be a blessing to the people if well administered. He also recognised the importance of a unified government, stating that a divided nation would only meet again "for the purpose of cutting one another's throats."
Franklin's endorsement of the Constitution was not without reservations. He understood that the Constitution had faults and did not address all the concerns of the delegates, particularly the lack of a Bill of Rights. However, he ultimately agreed to the Constitution because he believed it was the best option available and did not want to prevent its general acceptance.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 39 signatures on the US Constitution, with 12 states represented. Virginia is one of the 12, with George Washington signing on behalf of the state.
Two Virginians, Edmund Randolph and George Mason, decided not to sign the US Constitution. They, along with Elbridge Gerry from Massachusetts, were the most vocal critics.
Some delegates left before the convention ended, while others refused to sign in protest. They were concerned about the document's lack of a Bill of Rights to protect certain freedoms.
The signatures endorsed the Constitution and signalled the completion of the delegates' work. They also indicated the adoption of the document by the states present.
