The Little Bird A Twice-Weekly Newsletter For Curious Seniors Nancy A. Franks, Editor th th Week Of September 13 - 19 , 2020 Issue II Topic: The U.S. Constitution “Where’d you hear that?” “The Little Bird told me!” The U.S. Constitution By The Numbers number of states, out of 13, 12 that sent delegates to the Constitutional Convention number of parchment 4 pages used number words in the 52 Preamble number of words in the 4, 400 Constitution days that it took to frame 100 the Constitution number of delegates Constitution Day th 55 attending the Constitutional September 17 is Constitution Day. The day marks the Convention formation and the signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty- amount earned by Jacob nine brave men on September 17, 1787, two hundred thirty- $30 Shallus, the clerk who three years ago. Constitution Day also recognizes all that copied the Constitution were born in the United States and those that have become 39 number of delegates that citizens through naturalization. signed the Constitution age of Ben Franklin, the The Preamble 81 oldest signer The Preamble is the introduction to the Constitution. It age of Jonathan Dayton, states the basic foundation of our democracy and introduces 26 the youngest signer federalism. The Preamble was added during the final days number of delegates that of the Constitutional Convention. 3 dissented "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a Pennman Of The Constitution more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Gouverneur Morris of New York is Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the credited as the lead author of the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to Preamble. The thirty-five year-old ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this served on the Convention’s Committee Constitution for the United States of America." On Style & Arrangement. When the Constitution was complete, Morris was Gouverneur tasked with editing and revising the Morris document. It was then that he added the (1752 – 1816) Preamble. Gouverneur Morris earned the nickname, “Pennman Of The Source: clipart.me, history.com Constitution”. No! No! We Won’t Go! Meet The Four Massachusetts Men Who Attended The Constitutional Convention Rufus King Source: Scarborough (now Maine) freedomworks.org 1755-1827 Rhode Island was the only state that chose not to age 32 - attended Harvard send delegates to the Constitutional Convention. lawyer and investor There was also resistance to holding a state signed the Constitution convention to ratify the Constitution. Rhode Source: loc.gov Islanders feared that the Constitution did not Nathaniel Gorham clearly protect religious freedom. They also felt Charlestown that the Constitution would provide too much 1738 - 1796 power to central government and take away the age 49 - attened local schools power of individual states. The reluctant state politician and merchant finally ratified the Constitution on May 29, 1790. signed the Constitution Source: nps.gov Elbridge Gerry Where Is The Original Constitution? Marblehead The original Constitution can be found in the 1744-1814 Rotunda Of The Charters Of Freedom at the age 43 - attended Harvard National Archives Museum in Washington, DC. It businessman and investor is accompanied by the Declaration Of *did not sign the Constitution Independence and the Bill Of Rights. Source: USHistory.org Caleb Strong Northampton 1745-1819 age 42 - attended Harvard lawyer *did not sign the Constitution Source: nga.org Was It A Mistake? On the section of the Constitution where the delegates signed their names, Pennsylvania is spelled with just one “n” - “Pensylvania”. Although many people consider this an error, that isn’t the case. At the time, this was a common spelling for the state. In fact, that is the spelling used on the Liberty Bell. The mistake may be the inconsistency throughout the document. In other places on the Constitution, the state name is spelled, “Pennsylvania”. Additional spelling, capitalization, and gramatical errors appear in the Constitution. Sometimes the British spellings of words was used such as controul (control), defence (defense), and labour (labor). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Birthplace Of The Constitution The Constitutional Convention was held at the Philadelphia State House, the same place where the Declaration Of Independence was adopted in 1776. People had already begun calling the building, Independence Hall. The Convention took place in the Assembly Room. The delegates sat at small tables covered with green cloth. In spite of the fierce summer Source: nps.gov temperatures in Philadelphia, the windows were kept closed. The delegates were determined to keep everything that was discussed secret. Have you toured Independence Hall and the Assembly Room? When visitors step into the Assembly Room, they are transported back to 1787. The room has been renovated and restored to be historically accurate. Source: nps.gov Most of the furniture and the chandelier are period antiques. The Rising Sun Chair, however, is an original piece. George Washington sat in this chair throughout the Convention. As delegates signed the Constitution, James Madison recalled hearing Benjamin Franklin say, “I have often looked at that behind the President without being able to tell whether it was a rising or setting. But now I….know that it is a rising…sun.” Source: nps.gov Do You Speak Latin? Prisoners To The Rescue Three Latin phrases are included in the Benjamin Franklin was in Constitution. What do they mean? poor health at the time of the pro tempore – “for the time being” Constitutional Convention. ex post facto – “with retroactive effect or force” With the assistance of four habeas corpus – a person under arrest must be prisoners from the local jail, brought before a judge or into court, especially the eighty-one year-old Founding Father was carried to secure the person’s release unless grounds are into Independence Hall in an shown for their detention Source: biography.com enclosed sedan chair. “The Constitution is the guide which I will never abandon.” - George Washington “To live under the American Constitution is the greatest political privilege that was ever Accorded to the human race.” - Calvin Coolidge Sources: teachingamericanhistory.org philadelphiaencyclopedia.org, www.nps.gov, Don’t miss the next issue of The Little ushistory.org, www.theconstitutional.com, museum.archives.gov/founding- Bird!© The topic will be: Cranberries. documents, , www.history.com, https://www.insider.com/us-constitution-fun-facts- xxx The Little Bird 2018 .