Sing along with us! The Constitution, Schoolhouse Rock GIF.
National Archives “We The People” GIF.
HAPPY CONSTITUTION DAY!
#OTD in 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed this landmark document. And now you can, too!
FUN FACTS ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION!
Did you know???
- Founding Fathers/future Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson didn’t sign the Constitution! No, they didn’t call (write) in sick - Adams was ambassador to Great Britain, Jefferson was ambassador to France.
- Only 1 Amendment to the Constitution has been repealed—the 18th (Prohibition).
- The oldest member at the Constitutional Convention was 81 (Ben Franklin, PA) and the youngest was only 26! (Jonathan Dayton, NJ).
- Rhode Island boycotted the Constitutional Convention and only signed the document in 1790!
- The U.S. Constitution is the oldest and shortest written constitution still in use today!
- Patrick Henry, the patriot who cried “give me liberty or give me death,” was chosen as a delegate but refused to attend/support the Constitutional Convention stating: “I smelt a rat.”
- “We the People of the United States” was a late edit. Previously, it was the wordy:
Image from the Library of Congress.
Check out Celebrating Constitution Day page and Celebrate Constitution Day Online National Archives News story for lots of additional info, resources, webinars, programs and more!
See also: (forgotten) Founding Father John Jay’s papers are added to Founders Online!
See the forgotten 5th page of this landmark document in this video!
How, when and why did the Constitution come to the National Archives? Find out here.