On September 17, 1787, the final draft of the Constitution was signed by 39 delegates. The document was then sent to the states for ratification, and went into effect on June 21, 1788 when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution.
In celebration of Constitution Day, the Library of Congress has compiled a variety of materials from across its collections. Explore these rich resources and features to learn more about one of America’s most important documents.
![The foundation of American government / Hy. Hintermeister. [P&P]](images/constitutionday.jpg)
Primary Source Documents Related to the United States Constitution
- Articles of Confederation
- Constitution
- Federalist Papers
- Bill of Rights
- 13th Amendment
- 14th Amendment
- 15th Amendment
|| Resources for Teachers ||
- American Memory Timeline: Primary Source Excerpts and Discussion Questions Related to the Constitution
- Themed Resource: Civics and Government
Lesson Plans
- The U.S. Constitution: Continuity and Change in the Governing of the United States Examine the Constitution and link early legislative debates to issues of today. (Grades 6-12)·
- The Constitution: Counter Revolution or National Salvation? Identify arguments for and against the ratification of the Constitution. (Grade 9-12)
- George Washington: First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of His Countrymen Explore Washington's leadership in forging a new nation. (Grades 9-12)
|| American Memory Collections ||
- Documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789
- A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation
- The James Madison Papers
- George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress 1741-1799
- The Thomas Jefferson Papers 1606-1827
- Search these collections using the words "Constitution," "Constitutional Convention," "Continental Congress" "Bill of Rights," or "Constitutional Amendments" to find related documents.
|| Stories for Kids from 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 Was Sent to the States, June 4, 1919
- The 24th Amendment Ended the Poll Tax, January 23, 1964
|| Books ||
Books For Younger Kids
- Fritz, Jean. Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution. New York: Putnam, 1987. [Catalog Record]
- Levy, Elizabeth. If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution. NY: Scholastic, 1987. [Catalog Record]
- Maestro, Betsy and Giulio. A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution. NY: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard, 1987. [Catalog Record]
For Middle School Readers
- Jordan, Terry L. The U.S. Constitution: And Fascinating Facts About It. Naperville, IL: Oak Hill Publishing Co., 1999. [Catalog Record]
- McKissack, Patricia. To Establish Justice: Citizenship and the Constitution. NY: Knopf, 2004. [Catalog Record]
For High School and Adult Readers
- Bowen, Catherine Drinker. Miracle at Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention, May to September, 1787. Boston: Little, Brown, 1986. [Catalog Record]
- Rakove, Jack N. Original Meanings: Politics and Ideas in the Making of the Constitution. New York: A.A. Knopf, 1996. [Catalog Record]
- Monk, Linda R. The Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution. NY: Hyperion, 2003. [Catalog Record]
|| Webcasts ||
- The Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution. Linda R. Monk discussed her book, The Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution (Hyperion, 2003), at the Library of Congress.