On Constitution Day, September 17, the United States commemorates the drafting of its Constitution. Broaden your knowledge of — 以及对 — this historic and important document through a brief exploration of the following information and links.
快速的事实:
- The Constitutional Convention met at the State House in Philadelphia, PA.
- There were 55 delegates to the Convention.
- Twelve of the thirteen states were represented; Rhode Island did not send delegates to the Convention.
- The Constitution was drafted in 1787 and became law on June 21, 1788, after 2/3 of the states ratified it.
- James Madison is often called the "Father of 宪法."
- Not all the states had ratified 宪法 by April 30, 1789, when George Washington became the first President of the United States.
- The structure of the document has not changed since it was written.
- Amendments have provided the flexibility necessary to meet changing circumstances.
- The Constitution is preserved for all to view at the National Archives in Washington, DC.
Check out a selection of books (and a few videos) about 宪法 that are available at the 米凯尔森图书馆.
Test your knowledge with an interactive quiz- ConstitutionFacts.com
Justice Learning, by the Annenberg Classroom — The Constitution Guide investigates the meaning of each article of 宪法 in a “What it Says” and “What it Means” format. An extensive interactive timeline of the ratification process is included.
Library of Congress: The Constitution — Link to articles on Constitutional Interpretation, 行政特权, 军事法庭, National Security and other constitutional issues in this Library of Congress guide. 另外, the personal papers of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and George Washington are part of the Library of Congress’s extensive Primary Documents in American 历史 collection and provide a unique insight into the formation of the nation and 宪法.
National Constitution Center’s Constitution Day resources — “The National Constitution Center is an independent, 无党派, and non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of, 以及对, 宪法, 它的历史, and its contemporary relevance.” This site compiles numerous interactive quizzes and various other resources on 宪法.
National Archives' Constitution resources — Download a facsimile of 宪法 or read a transcript on the National Archives website. As the repository of the original Constitution, the National Archives maintains an extensive website of Constitution trivia, facts and an in-depth look at 宪法al Convention and the ratification process.
Interested in learning about the men in the below oil painting? 39人, most of whom you've probably never heard of, have had an enormous impact on your life. 他们是谁?? Read the bios of the signers of 宪法 on the National Archives website.
The Scene at the Signing of 宪法, oil painting by Howard Chandler Christy, 1940.