Orono Mayor, Denny Walsh, issued a public proclamation at the September 14 City Council in honor of Constitution Week. The proclamation encourages residents to read the Constitution and reflect on the privilege of being an American with all the rights and responsibilities which that privilege involves.
The Constitution was framed at the Constitutional Convention held between May 14 and September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Known to historians as the “100-day debate,” the convention’s purpose was to determine how America would be governed. The original intent was to simply revise the Articles of Confederation. However, outspoken delegates such as Alexander Hamilton and James Madison brought ideas to recraft the national government instead.
The outcome of the convention was one of the most powerful and influential legal documents in the world. The U.S. Constitution is now one of the world’s oldest surviving constitutions. Since its creation 233 years ago, more than 100 countries have used the U.S. Constitution as a basis for their own constitutions.
The original Constitution has been on display in the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. since 1952. The document is displayed behind protective glass framed with titanium in cases containing argon gas and kept at 67 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 40 percent to protect the parchment from deterioration.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution initiated Constitution Week in 1955, when the organization petitioned the U.S. Congress to dedicate September 17–23 of each year to the commemoration of Constitution Week. Congress adopted the resolution, and on August 2, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into Public Law #915.
The Lake Minnetonka Chapter DAR is delighted to join Mayor Walsh in recognizing the importance of this foundational document in American government. “Constitution Week is a good time to learn more about the Constitution and its impact on the American way of life,” states Chapter Regent, Gigi Hickey. “We are grateful to Mayor Walsh for his enthusiasm in commemorating and celebrating the Constitution and the historic events that led to its writing.” The Chapter has historically promoted Constitution Week by distributing pocket copies of the document and sponsoring educational events such as a U.S. Constitution poster contest for area elementary students.
One of the largest patriotic women’s organizations in the world, DAR has more than 185,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters across the country and several foreign countries. DAR members promote historic preservation, education and patriotism via commemorative events, scholarships and educational initiatives, citizenship programs, service to veterans, meaningful community service and more. For additional information about DAR and its relevant mission, visit www.dar.org.
The Constitutional Convention
Did You Know?
· Discussions during the convention continued from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. six days a week, with only a 10-day break.
· The debate between large and small states over popular representation was resolved by a proposal from Connecticut delegate, Roger Sherman, that called for proportional representation in the House, and one representative (later changed to two) per state in the Senate. This compromise passed 5 to 4, with one state, Massachusetts, divided.
· The original Constitution failed to articulate requirements for the right to vote. As a result, only white male property-owners could vote until later amendments were ratified. African American men were granted the right to vote in the 15th amendment, ratified in 1870. Women were granted the right to vote in the 19th amendment ratified in 1920. And Native Americans were granted the right to vote in in 1924 with the passage of the Snyder Act which guarantee their U.S. citizenship and therefore the right to vote under the provisions of the 15th amendment.
· The oldest person to sign the Constitution was Benjamin Franklin, aged 81, and the youngest was Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey, aged 26.
· The final Constitution was hand-written by Pennsylvania General Assembly Clerk, Jacob Shallus, for a fee of $30.
· George Washington and James Madison were the only presidents who signed the Constitution.
· The Constitution contains 4,543 words, including the signatures and has four sheets, 28 3/4 inches by 23 5/8 inches each. It contains 7,591 words including the 27 amendments.
· At the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin observed the symbol of a half-sun on George Washington’s chair and remarked, “I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting sun.”
From ConstitutionFacts.com
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