The United States Constitution was signed in 1787, a key founding milestone within the history celebrated by America250.
Delegates signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787, at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia. The convention had met from May through September to replace the Articles of Confederation with a stronger federal framework.
The Constitution was not effective simply because delegates signed it. It required ratification by the states, and Article VII specified that conventions in nine states were sufficient for establishment among the ratifying states. The document took effect in 1789, after the required ratifications and the creation of the new federal government.
The Constitution and Declaration of Independence serve different purposes. The Declaration announced separation from Great Britain in 1776, while the Constitution organized the government of the United States. Both documents are associated with Independence Hall and the nation’s founding era.