U.S. Constitution Day Celebrates Enduring American Greatness
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September 17 commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787, a testament to the wisdom of the Founders and the enduring strength of American values, even as modern debates threaten to undermine its principles.
September 17 marks Constitution Day, the anniversary of the 1787 signing of the United States Constitution by thirty-nine visionary delegates in Philadelphia. This historic charter was ratified a year later when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it, fulfilling the requirement of Article VII and cementing the United States as a beacon of liberty and order. The first elections under this framework were held in the fall of 1788, and the inaugural Congress convened on March 4, 1789, followed by the first presidential inauguration on April 30, 1789—moments that established the foundation for American greatness.
Since its adoption, the Constitution has been amended twenty-seven times through the procedures set out in Article V, demonstrating the Founders’ foresight in allowing for measured, deliberate change. Current officeholders continue to take oaths to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,” a sacred duty that is too often disregarded by those who seek to erode traditional values and the rule of law.
Historical figures have highlighted the document’s unmatched significance. In a note written after his 1860 election, Abraham Lincoln described the Declaration of Independence as an “apple of gold” and the Constitution as the “silver picture” that frames and protects it, underscoring the need to defend both from radical reinterpretation. British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone, on the centennial of the Constitution’s ratification, called it “the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man,” a tribute to American exceptionalism.
Commentators note that the Constitution faces extensive challenges today, as progressive activists and globalist elites push for changes that threaten its core principles. This climate demands renewed commitment to conservative constitutionalism and the defense of the institutions, laws, and norms that have made the United States the world’s leading democracy.