When and Where Was the US Constitution Written?

When Was the US Constitution Written?

The United States Constitution was written from May to September 1787. Since then, 27 amendments have been changed or added to the Constitution.

Where Was the US Constitution Written?

The Constitution was written and signed in Philadelphia in the Pennsylvania State House Assembly Room. This room is now known as Independence Hall to remember the events that took place there.

The Founding Fathers

When reading and evaluating the Constitution, it is clear that such a document could only have come about through extensive discussions by highly educated leaders.

Men like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison set out to create a unique and unprecedented document that would ensure a free state and one that was powerful enough to defend itself.

A Perfect Union?

This careful balancing act between state and federal power makes a union founded upon a carefully constructed constitution.

The Constitution’s value cannot be overstated, but when and where did this vital writing process happen?

To answer, it’s important to understand the historical context that led to the writing of the Constitution.

What Led to the Writing of the Constitution?

The US Constitution was written following the American Revolutionary War, in which the 13 colonies fought for their right to self-governance. The British Empire had expanded and attempted to tax the American colonies without sufficiently representing their interests in government.

During this time, ideas about a government existing to serve the people became popular, and the Revolutionary War broke out to fight for these ideals.

The war lasted from 1775 to 1783, with the Declaration of Independence being pronounced in 1776. The Declaration of Independence was when the American colonies declared themselves independent, self-governing states.

Purpose of the US Constitution

In 1781, the Articles of Confederation were ratified. The Articles of Confederation are regarded as the first American Constitution ever written and were designed to set out how the American government’s functions.

Although each of the 13 colonies was considered an independent nation-state, they were unified under Congress and known as the United States of America. Congress was given certain powers, including regulating currency and conducting foreign affairs.

In 1783, after winning the Revolutionary War with Great Britain, it became clear that America needed a more powerful central government to protect America’s freedom from foreign tyrants. A constitution was created to create a free and stable nation that protected the rights of the people.

When Was the US Constitution Written?

In 1787, the drafting began on the United States Constitution. The Constitutional Convention was opened in May that year, and the writing process began. Fifty-five delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies attended, and Founding Father George Washington was unanimously voted president of the Constitutional Convention.

Having become a war hero who led the colonies to victory over the British, Washington was considered the right person to oversee proceedings.

Other key contributors

Other well-educated leaders such as Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton also attended the Convention. After fierce debate regarding which powers should be given to independent states and afforded to the federal government, the US Constitution was written down.

In September 1787, the United States Constitution was signed. However, it still needed to be ratified by at least nine states to become enshrined in law. Ratification didn’t happen until June 1788, but the Constitution has remained in force ever since.

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When Was the US Constitution Ratified?

Although written in 1787, the US Constitution wasn’t complete. The Founding Fathers left the option to suggest amendments. James Madison first put forward such amendments in September 1789. He introduced 19 amendments.

A successful amendment must pass through Congress and be ratified by at least three-fourths of the states. Out of 19 introduced, 12 were ratified and included in the Constitution, 10 of which became the rights outlined in the Bill of Rights.

The Bill of Rights

The ten rights protected by the Bill of Rights are: 

• Freedom of speech
• Right to bear arms
• No quartering of soldiers
• Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures
• Right to due process of law
• Right to a speedy and public trial
• Right of trial by jury
• Freedom from cruel and unusual punishment
• Other rights of the people
• Powers given to the states

Further Amendments to the United States Constitution

Beyond these 10, just seven other amendments have been ratified and become part of the United States Constitution. The most recent amendment was ratified in 1992, so you could say that the US Constitution was written between 1787 and 1992.

Thousands of amendments have been introduced but getting them ratified is no easy task. It could be many decades before we see another change to the Constitution.

Where was the US Constitution Written?

The American Constitution was written in Philadelphia. The Constitutional Convention, known as the Philadelphia Convention, was how the Founding Fathers gathered to debate, write, and sign the Constitution.

Specifically, they did so in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House. The Founding Fathers chose this venue because it’s where the Declaration of Independence was signed 11 years earlier.

This building has since had its name changed to Independence Hall in honor of its significance in the US’s history.

How Long Did It Take To Write the Original Constitution?

The writing of the original Constitution didn’t happen overnight. It occurred over many months of high-pressure debate and depended on the cooperation of many important people.

Although the writing happened in one room, the completed document resulted from many years of fighting against tyranny in favor of freedom.

An ongoing process

Even after its initial ratification, amendments mean the Constitution is continuously being written. The debate continues, and suggestions for changes are constantly being raised.

The United States government‘s current role is to protect the US Constitution, making changes if it can be widely agreed upon as a necessary amendment. This process has produced an almost perfect document that has protected US citizens for over two centuries.

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