Delegates signed the United States Constitution in 1787. The Constitutional Convention approved and signed the document on September 17 at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia.
The Constitution created a stronger federal framework to replace the Articles of Confederation. Fifty-five delegates attended the convention at various points, and 39 signed the final document. The Constitution then went to the states for ratification rather than taking effect solely through the convention’s signature.
The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution serve different purposes. The Declaration announced separation from Great Britain in 1776, while the Constitution established the structure and powers of the new federal government. The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791.