On This Day: September 17, 1787 – The US Constitution Was Signed
How The US Constitution Was Signed at the Independence Hall in 1787
History was created on September 17, 1787 within the walls of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. On this date in, 1787, the US Constitution was signed by 39 of this country’s delegates, put in place a new form of governance that till this day, over two hundred years later, remains.
The Long Summer of 1787
This period has been referred to as: the Long Summer of 1787. The long intended conference was with a major goal, to the refine the Articles of the Confederation, but the discussions quickly devolved into the creation of a wholly new document. During the span of four months, delegates were embroiled in heated discussions regarding the balance of power between the states, ranging from the more populated states to the less populated ones, the functions of the federal government, and the processes of determining government officials.
The Great Compromise served as a queue for the culmination of the debates establishing a two tiered Congress. One of the tiers, referred to as the House of Representatives, would allocate its representatives based on state populations, while the other tier, termed the Senate, would maintain equal power distribution amongst all states. This compromise was instrumental for the survival of the convention.
Signing the Constitution
On September 17, thirty-nine men, including influential figures such as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin believed that achieving the baseline requirements of governance was a more plausible step than inaction, which ensured the Constitution was signed for no empty promises to be made. Others believed it was too inappropriate, over centralising power and neglecting to keep the citizen’s rights as the foremost priority. Although not all were satisfied with the Constitution, to a certain extent, the compromise helped the divided country unite again.
Franklin, aged 81, was assisted to the hall and gets ready to sign. Noticing the chair with the sun sculpture, he said, ‘I, for one, now think the sun carving on it is a rising sun, signifying hope for the new nation.’
A Living Document
The Constitution became the supreme law of the land with the ratification of the states. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were added to the Constitution in 1791 in order to secure such individual liberties as free speech and free exercise of religion. The US Constitution still provides the foundation of democracy in the US with its enduring checks and balances system, even with the 27 amendments added since its inception.
Why September 17 Still Matters
Americans celebrate Constitution Day on September 17. The signing of the US Constitution in 1787 is unique in the sense that it does not only represent a milestone for the US, but also serves as a source of inspiration on how a nation can be governed with laws, rights and responsibilities.
References
Informative