September 17, 1787

Constitutional Convention (United States)

Constitutional Convention signs the United States Constitution

Thirty-nine names appear on the parchment, but only 38 men signed that day — George Read added the absent John Dickinson's name at his request.

17 September 1787: the last day in Philadelphia

On 17 September 1787, the Convention's final day at the Pennsylvania State House, the delegates gave the Constitution the assent of eleven voting state delegations plus Alexander Hamilton — the sole New York delegate still present. George Washington signed first.

The parchment itself had been produced over a single weekend: after the final draft was approved on 15 September, Pennsylvania legislative clerk Jacob Shallus engrossed it in roughly 40 hours of work, for which he was paid $30.

Franklin's appeal, and three refusals

Benjamin Franklin, 81, had prepared a closing appeal urging delegates who still objected to doubt their own infallibility and support the document; James Wilson read it aloud because Franklin could not deliver it himself.

It did not persuade everyone. Of the 42 delegates present, three — George Mason, Elbridge Gerry and Edmund Randolph — refused to sign, objecting among other things to the absence of a bill of rights. Thirty-eight signed, with Read adding Dickinson's name by proxy for the 39th.

A proposal, not yet a constitution

Signing did not make the Constitution law. Article VII required ratification by conventions in nine states, and Secretary William Jackson carried the document to the Confederation Congress, arriving 20 September. The Constitution became binding when New Hampshire ratified on 21 June 1788.

The Convention closed after four months of secret deliberations. Washington's diary records how the day ended: the members dined together at the City Tavern.

Sources

Researched 23 Aug 2026 7 sources 3 audit passes

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