logo

10 Little Known Facts about the U.S. Constitution

image
Author: Steve Baker
Created: 17 September, 2014
Updated: 15 October, 2022
2 min read

September 17 marks the signing of the U.S. Constitution and the national celebration of a living document that shapes the destiny of every U.S. citizen.

Every American ought to be aware of the provisions stated in the Constitution addressing individual rights and freedoms. However, not everybody knows the drama, complications, and attitudes that went into the creation of the document.

Here are 10 curious facts you may not be aware of regarding the Constitution:

  1. The U.S. Constitution is the shortest national constitution in the world at 4,400 words.
  2. Over 11,000 amendments to the Constitution have been proposed, only 27 have been ratified.
  3. Benjamin Franklin was the oldest signer of the constitution at 81. He died at age 84.
  4. George Washington initially proposed a 'day of thanks' or Thanksgiving Day as a way to honor the Constitution.
  5. While drafting, the Constitution included a clause that would abolish slavery 20 years after its implementation.
  6. Only 12 of the 13 colonies were present during the drafting of the Constitution. Rhode Island did not want to participate and was the last to sign on May 29, 1790.
  7. Independence Hall, where the Constitution was signed, is also where the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation were signed several years earlier.
  8. The iconic first words of the Constitution, 'We the people of the United States,' originally listed each individual state from north to south instead of 'the United States.'
  9. Gouverneur Morris, a delegate from Pennsylvania is usually credited as the 'Penman of the Constitution.' Actually, a man named Jacob Shallus - assistant clerk of the Pennsylvania State Assembly - penned most of the document.

Despite fears of corruption and inequity of representation, the U.S. Constitution was fully ratified on May 29, 1790. Our nation’s fathers acted as all statesmen and politicians should; they compromised for the good of the people. Now, on September 17, above all else, it remains important to celebrate that document by which we create our individual destinies.

Editor's note: These and more Constitution Facts can be found at ConstitutionFacts.com

Latest articles

votes
Wyoming Purges Nearly 30% of Its Voters from Registration Rolls
It is not uncommon for a state to clean out its voter rolls every couple of years -- especially to r...
27 March, 2024
-
1 min read
ballot box
The Next Big Win in Better Election Reform Could Come Where Voters Least Expect
Idaho isn't a state that gets much attention when people talk about politics in the US. However, this could change in 2024 if Idahoans for Open Primaries and their allies are successful with their proposed initiative....
21 March, 2024
-
3 min read
Courts
Why Do We Accept Partisanship in Judicial Elections?
The AP headline reads, "Ohio primary: Open seat on state supreme court could flip partisan control." This immediately should raise a red flag for voters, and not because of who may benefit but over a question too often ignored....
19 March, 2024
-
9 min read
Nick Troiano
Virtual Discussion: The Primary Solution with Unite America's Nick Troiano
In the latest virtual discussion from Open Primaries, the group's president, John Opdycke, sat down ...
19 March, 2024
-
1 min read
Sinema
Sinema's Exit Could Be Bad News for Democrats -- Here's Why
To many, the 2024 presidential primary has been like the movie Titanic - overly long and ending in a disaster we all saw coming from the start. After months of campaigning and five televised primary debates, Americans are now faced with a rematch between two candidates polling shows a majority of them didn’t want....
19 March, 2024
-
7 min read