The History and Significance of Constitution Day

Each September, the United States honors one of the most critical documents in its history: the US Constitution. Constitution Day marks the anniversary of the Constitution's signing in 1787, a moment that laid the foundation for the nation’s laws and government. The holiday not only commemorates the creation of this historic document but also encourages Americans to reflect on the values, debates, and compromises that shaped the country’s path toward unity and democracy.

What is Constitution Day?

Constitution Day is a federal holiday that takes place each year to commemorate the signing of the US Constitution in 1787.

From 1774 to 1781, the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to determine how to run the newly independent United States. In 1777, the first Constitution, known as the Articles of Confederation, was adopted. While the Articles were adopted by all 13 original states, they gave the federal government very little power, making it difficult to build a national military or pay back debt owed from the costly war of independence. 

By 1786, the US federal government was facing default over its wartime debts and could not pay the soldiers in its small army of 625 troops. The individual states did not act as a unified force, but instead created their own armies, foreign relations, and embargoes. When Congress attempted to pass legislation, it often failed due to the low turnout of delegations from each state. 

On February 21, 1787, Congress called for a gathering of state delegates to revise the Articles of Confederation entirely. Initially, only delegates from Virginia and Pennsylvania appeared. Over the following weeks, delegates from all states except Rhode Island participated in debates over what kind of government to adopt for the United States. 

After several months of intense debate, a comprehensive Constitution was drafted from July to August. Each section was further debated and developed until a final draft was determined in September. The original US Constitution, handwritten by calligrapher Jacob Shallus, was then presented to Congress on September 17th. Due to the Constitution’s attempt to make difficult compromises between the desires of all states, not all delegates accepted the final document and refused to sign. However, 39 delegates, while recognizing that the document did not fully represent what each one wanted, signed anyway in the faith that it would help create a unified nation. 

When is Constitution Day?

Constitution Day occurs annually on September 17, the same date in 1787 that the Constitution was signed. 

When was Constitution Day First Celebrated?

Constitution Day was observed for the very first time in 1911 by schools in Iowa. By 1917, the Sons of the American Revolution began a nationwide campaign to promote Constitution Day. Over the decades, schools in various states began to hold educational programming focused on the US Constitution. Activities typically included class readings of parts of the Constitution and debating the Constitutional Amendments.

In 1997, Louise Leigh started a campaign for the US Congress to recognize US Constitution Day as a national holiday. Her efforts inspired West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd to include Constitution Day in an omnibus bill passed by Congress in 2004. In addition to Constitution Day, Citizenship Day, a day to celebrate naturalized and native-born citizens, was also federally recognized. 

How is Constitution Day Celebrated?

The bill that recognized the United States Constitution Day as a federal holiday included two stipulations. The first was that any school receiving federal funding would teach students about the US Constitution. The second was that all federal agencies provide their employees with educational materials about the Constitution as well. 

Constitution Day is an opportunity to reflect on the principles guiding today's nation. By studying its origins, acknowledging the challenges it faced in its creation, and celebrating its enduring significance, Americans can better appreciate the Constitution’s role in shaping both the government and the daily lives of its citizens. Whether through education, discussion, or reflection, this day invites us all to reconnect with the document that remains the centerpiece of American democracy.