Constitution Signed: American Democracy Established
Thirty-nine delegates signed the United States Constitution at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787, after four months of secret deliberation. Benjamin Franklin, 81 years old and too weak to stand, had his speech read by another delegate, urging adoption despite imperfections. Three delegates present refused to sign. The document created a federal system with separation of powers among executive, legislative, and judicial branches, each checking the others. It was ratified by the required nine states by June 1788, with the promise that a Bill of Rights would be added. Those first ten amendments were ratified in 1791. The Constitution has been amended only 27 times in over 235 years, making it the oldest written national constitution still in effect.
September 17, 1787
239 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on September 17
Remistus had been magister militum — essentially commander of the Western Roman army — but by 456 that title meant less than it once had. A Gothic force besiege…
Alfonso VII was three years old when his father died, and his mother was immediately pressured to remarry and cede control. He spent his childhood under the pro…
Emperor Manuel I Komnenos had been pushing into Anatolia for years, reclaiming territory, winning battles, dreaming of a restored empire. Then at Myriokephalon …
Mary of Hungary was crowned 'king' — not queen, but king — in September 1382, because the Hungarian nobility didn't have a mechanism for a female ruler and refu…
Piotr Dunin’s forces crushed the Teutonic Order at the Battle of Świecino, shattering the Knights' military dominance in the region. This victory forced the Ord…
Polish forces routed the Teutonic Knights at Swiecino during the Thirteen Years' War, capturing the Order's commander and shattering their remaining military st…
Talk to History
Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.