Today in History: U.S. Constitution

Today in History–September 17–the Library of Congress features the U.S. Constitution. After much debate and compromise, the members of the Constitutional Convention signed the final draft of the Constitution on this day in 1787. It would take just over nine months to ratify this document that would become the supreme law of the land. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section and by delving into the extensive list of U.S. Constitution teaching resources & primary sources.

Congress.gov (U.S. Legislative Information)

• Constitution of the United States as originally adopted
• Constitution Annotated analysis & interpretation of the U.S. Constitution
• An App to Answer Your Questions about the Constitution
• Proposed constitutional amendments, 2001-present

Primary source lesson plans & activities

Library collections

• Documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention
• Words & Deeds in American History
• A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates (1774-1875)
  • Benjamin Franklin’s speech recommending adoption of the U.S. Constitution
• George Washington Papers
• James Madison Papers
• Thomas Jefferson Papers
• An American Time Capsule: Three Centuries of Broadsides and Other Printed Ephemera

Primary source sets

• Creating the Constitution select primary sources and analysis guides
  • The Declaration of Independence
  • The Constitution
  • The Bill of Rights
  • Map Documents
  • Political Cartoon Documents
  • National Archives Primary Source Sets
• Creating the United States interactive presentations
  • Creating the Declaration of Independence
  • Creating the United States Constitution
  • Creating the Bill of Rights
• U.S. Constitution primary source set & teacher’s guide
• U.S. Constitution primary source iBook
• The Articles of Confederation
• The Federalist Papers
• The Bill of Rights
• The Supreme Court
• The Young Nation
• John Adams
• Benjamin Franklin
• Alexander Hamilton
• John Hancock
• Thomas Jefferson
• Robert R. Livingston
• James Madison
• James Monroe
• George Washington
• 2nd Amendment & Gun Control
• 14th amendement
• 19th amendment
• 24th amendment
• Temperance & Prohibition

In Observance of Constitution Day resource set

Library online exhibitions

• Declaring Independence, Drafting the Documents
• Creating the Declaration of Independence
• Creating the United States Constitution
• Creating the Bill of Rights
• Benjamin Franklin in His Own Words
• American Treasures
  • A Rare Civics Lesson
  • The Federalist
  • A Looking Glass for 1787
  • Draft of the Virginia Constitution
  • Report of the Committee of Detail
  • Broadside United States Constitution
  • The Fifteenth Amendment

Spotlights, features & special presentations

• Primary Source Excerpts and Discussion Questions Related to the Constitution
• To Form a More Perfect Union: Essays on the Formation of the United States
• The New Nation: The United States Constitution
• The New Nation: Confederation Government Policy Towards Native Americans
• George Washington Papers Timeline
• Thomas Jefferson Papers Timeline
• James Madison and the Federal Constitutional Convention of 1787
• American Cartoon Prints: 1766-1876
• Religious Freedom & the U.S. Constitution event video recording

America’s Library

• The Articles of Confederation Were Adopted, November 15, 1777
• James Madison’s Contribution to the Constitution
• New Jersey Approved the Constitution, December 18, 1787
• The New United States of America Adopted the Bill of Rights, December 15, 1791
• 14th Amendment to the Constitution was Ratified, July 28, 1868
• Nineteenth Amendment Granting Women’s Suffrage Sent to the States, June 4, 1919
• The 24th Amendment Ended the Poll Tax, January 23, 1964
• Patrick Henry
• John Hancock
• John Jay
• Thomas Jefferson
• George Washington
• James Madison
• John Adams

Blog posts

• Constitution Day – The Annotated Constitution Celebrated In Custodia Legis blog September 16, 2015
• Constitution Day – Religious Liberty in the United States In Custodia Legis blog September 29, 2015
• How Did Americans Observe the 100th Anniversary of the Signing of the Constitution? Teaching with the Library of Congress September 17, 2019

Library of Congress Law Library

• Framing of the United States Constitution: A Beginner’s Guide
• The Framing of the United States Constitution: A Beginner’s Guide In Custodia Legis blog May 15, 2017

Webcasts

• The Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution
• Symposium: James Madison, Philosopher and Practitioner of Liberal Democracy
• Separate Branches, Balanced Powers: Madison’s Legacy
• Publishing the Declaration (transcript)
• Hugo Black of Alabama: How His Roots and Early Career Shaped the Great Champion of the Constitution
• Extraordinary Rendition: Constitutional Issues

U.S. House of Representatives History, Art & Archives

• Edition for Educators—House Civics 101 US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives April 5, 2017
• Origins & Development: From the Constitution to the Modern House
  • Biennial Elections
  • Constitutional Qualifications
  • Electoral College & Indecisive Elections
  • Impeachment
  • Investigations & Oversight
  • Oath of Office
  • Power to Declare War
  • Power of the Purse
  • Proportional Representation
  • Speaker of the House
  • Other Officers of the House

More resources 

• U.S. Politics, Government, & Law: An Annotated List of Reference Websites