Constitution Day

Yesterday, September 17, was Constitution Day.  On this day we commemorate the signing of the Constitution of the United States of America by 39 of the 42 delegates at the Constitutional Convention.  Students participated in a variety of activities in classes yesterday.

After being signed, printed copies were sent to state legislatures for radification.  By June of 1788, the requisite nine states had ratified the Constitution.  Our constitution is the oldest and shortest of all written national constitutions.  Just four hand-written pages, the Constitution has produced the world's greatest form of government. 

Did you know? (from constitutioncenter.org)

• The US Constitution was prepared in secret, behind locked doors that were guarded by sentries.
• The originial Constitution is on display at the National Archives in Washington, DC.  When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, it was moved to Fort Knox for safekeeping.
• More than 11,000 amendments have been introduced in Congress.  Thirty three have gone to the states to be ratified and twenty seven have received the necessary approval from the states to actually become amendments to the Constitution.

Do you know what it takes to become a citizen?  Check out this link:

http://www.constitutioncenter.org/naturalization-test/