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Constitution of the United States

  • Type: Constitutional document
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Drafted in secret by delegates to the Constitutional Convention during the summer of 1787, this four-page document, signed on September 17, 1787, established the government of the United States.

The Federal Convention convened in the State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia on May 14, 1787, to revise the Articles of Confederation. Because the delegations from only two states were at first present, the members adjourned from day to day until a quorum of seven states was obtained on May 25. Through discussion and debate it became clear by mid-June that, rather than amend the existing Articles, the Convention would draft an entirely new frame of government. All through the summer, in closed sessions, the delegates debated, and redrafted the articles of the new Constitution. Among the chief points at issue were how much power to allow the central government, how many representatives in Congress to allow each state, and how these representatives should be elected--directly by the people or by the state legislators. The work of many minds, the Constitution stands as a model of cooperative statesmanship and the art of compromise. - US National Archives




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Constitution of the United States
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Timeline

Y/M/D Association Description Place Locale Food Event
1784/12/12 George Gray (Pennsylvania politician) Signer for Pennsylvania Pennsylvania becomes the second state to ratify the United States Constitution.
1787/00/00 Pierce Butler Author Pierce Butler proposes the Fugitive Slave Clause (Article 4, Section 2) in the US Constitution. Persons "held to service" in one state who escapes to another, shall be "delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labour may be due". Independence Hall Philadelphia, PA Constitutional Convention
1787/09/17 Abraham Baldwin Singer, Representing Georgia Federal Convention adopts the US Constitution. Independence Hall Philadelphia, PA Constitutional Convention
1787/09/17 Charles Pinckney A principal author of the US Constitution Federal Convention adopts the US Constitution. Independence Hall Philadelphia, PA Constitutional Convention
1787/09/17 Daniel Carroll Signer, Representing Maryland Federal Convention adopts the US Constitution. Independence Hall Philadelphia, PA Constitutional Convention
1787/09/17 Pierce Butler Signer, Representing South Carolina Federal Convention adopts the US Constitution. Independence Hall Philadelphia, PA Constitutional Convention
1787/09/17 Roger Sherman Signer, representing Connecticut Federal Convention adopts the US Constitution. Independence Hall Philadelphia, PA Constitutional Convention
1787/09/17 Gouverneur Morris Signer, Author of the Preamble Federal Convention adopts the US Constitution. Independence Hall Philadelphia, PA Constitutional Convention
1787/09/17 Nicholas Gilman Jr Signer, Representing New Hampshire Federal Convention adopts the US Constitution. Independence Hall Philadelphia, PA Constitutional Convention
1787/09/17 Charles C Pinckney Singer, Representing South Carolina Federal Convention adopts the US Constitution. Independence Hall Philadelphia, PA Constitutional Convention
1788/02/03 Hon Benjamin Greenleaf Signer to State Convention Massachusetts Ratifying Convention votes to ratify the Federal Constitution. 355 delegates registered their vote. Massachusetts Ratifying Convention
1788/02/03 Moses Davis Signer to State Convention Massachusetts Ratifying Convention votes to ratify the Federal Constitution. 355 delegates registered their vote. Massachusetts Ratifying Convention
1788/04/24 William Paca Maryland Representative Anti-Federalist William Paca, request adjournment to give him time to draft amendments to the US Constitution. On the following day, the delegates will not allow him to read his amendments. Maryland Statehouse Annapolis, MD
1788/04/24 Richard Barnes Maryland Representative Anti-Federalist William Paca, request adjournment to give him time to draft amendments to the US Constitution. On the following day, the delegates will not allow him to read his amendments. Maryland Statehouse Annapolis, MD
1788/04/28 Richard Barnes Maryland Representative Richard Barnes and the rest of the Maryland Convention sign the Form of Ratification for the United States Constitution. Maryland becomes the seventh state to ratify. Maryland Statehouse Annapolis, MD
1788/06/02 Alexander Scott Bullitt Delegate from District of Kentucky The Virginia Ratifying Convention meets in Richmond to consider the ratification of the United States Constitution. Alexander S Bullitt is one of the 14 delegates from Kentucky. Monumental Church Richmond
1788/06/02 David Looney Delegate from Sullivan County Delegates of the Virginia Convention begin deliberating the ratification of the National Constitution at the Richmond Theatre (lost). Eight states had already voted to ratify, leaving New Hampshire, New York and Virginia to vote on ratification. Monumental Church Richmond
1788/06/24 George Wythe Delegate George Wythe proposes a resolution to ratify the United States Constitution. Monumental Church Richmond
1788/06/25 Patrick Henry Delegate With Patrick Henry pushing for a federal Bill of Rights, the delegates to the Virginia Convention ratify the United States Constitution by a vote of 89 to 79 vote. Monumental Church Richmond
1788/06/25 Nathaniel Burwell Delegate from James City County With Patrick Henry pushing for a federal Bill of Rights, the delegates to the Virginia Convention ratify the United States Constitution by a vote of 89 to 79 vote. Monumental Church Richmond
1788/07/21 George Elliot Representative from Cumberland County 270 delegates, representing 7 boroughs and 58 counties in North-Carolina and its territories, meet to vote on the new US Constitution at St Matthew's Episcopal Church in Hillsborough, North Carolina.

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Particulars for Constitution of the United States:
Art Type Constitutional document
Narrative Arts Factual concerned with what is actually true rather than interpretations of or reactions to it

Information
Original Language: English



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