September 17, 2012 - Constitution Day in the U.S.A.

On this date in 1787, almost all of the delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia signed the newly penned U.S. Constitution. Every September 17 is celebrated as Constitution Day to commemorate this signing.

Did you know...?

• 
  Neither John Adams nor Thomas Jefferson signed the Constitution. Adams was in England and Jefferson in France, serving as ministers representing the new nation, during the Constitutional Convention.

• 
  Benjamin Franklin did sign, with tears streaming down his face, but he needed help to sign because he was ill.

• When it was written, black people and women of all races were not allowed to vote. Native Americans were not allowed to vote in U.S. elections until 1924!

• The U.S. Constitution has 4,400 words. It is the oldest and shortest written constitution of any major government in the world.

For more fun facts plus activities, check out Constitution Facts-dot-com. 

Another resource to check out is the iCivics website, which features a game called “Do I Have a Right?” and a Constitution Day lesson plan. 

Also on this date:

Anniversary of the Doors defying Ed Sullivan 

Anniversary of Van Leeuwenhoek's discovery of “animalcules”