The United States Constitution is the foundation of our democracy. The Constitution sets forth the framework for our central government with it's three separate branches, and it establishes the basis for the rule of law. The Constitution also provides the protection of individual human rights and freedoms.
September 17 is Constitution Day which is a time to commemorate the signing of the Constitution, that occurred on September 17, 1787, at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. September 17 is also known as Citizenship Day, which celebrates all American citizens, whether by coming of age or by naturalization. Constitution Day and Citizenship Day is an opportunity to reflect on our rights afforded us by the Constitution, as well as our duties as American citizens.
The Constitutional Convention took place on May 14 through September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The original states sent 55 delegates to the convention, with the exception of Rhode Island who did not send any delegates. The original purpose of the convention was to revise the existing Articles of Confederation, which was the law of the land at that time. However, after many heated debates and compromises, something much better emerged from the convention-- the United States Constitution.
Please check out the following links for more information about the U.S. Constitution.
See the National Archives website to view the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and other founding documents.
U.S. Constitution Annotated (the Constitution explained in plain English)
Constitution Day was first recognized in 1911, in Iowa public schools. In 1939, a New York City newspaper publisher named William Rudolph Hearst advocated for a day to celebrate citizenship in the United States. His efforts led Congress to establish "I Am an American Day", in 1940. Every third Saturday in May was designated as the day for the observance.
Olga T. Weber, from Louisville, Ohio, petitioned city leaders to change the date of the holiday to correspond with the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. The city leaders agreed and on September 17, 1952, Louisville became the first city in the United States to observe Citizenship Day. Olga went on to petition state leaders and the U.S. Congress. Congress approved her requests and President Dwight Eisenhower signed the bill into law. "I am an American Day" became "Citizenship Day" and observance of the day moved to September 17.
Louise Leigh founded the nonprofit Constitution Day, Inc. to bring recognition about the importance of Constitution Day to the American people. Her efforts along with support from Senator Robert Byrd led to Constitution Day becoming an official holiday alongside Citizenship Day in 2004.
Benjamin Franklin, was asked at the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, “What have your wrought?” He answered, “. . . a Republic, if you can keep it.”
"Don't interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties."- Abraham Lincoln
"The American Constitution is a written instrument full and complete in itself. No Court in America, no Congress, no President, can add a single word thereto, or take a single word thereto. It is a great national enactment done by the people, and can only be altered, amended, or added to by the people." -Frederick Douglass
"When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir."- Martin Luther King, Jr.
