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Constitution Day
What does Constitution Day celebrate?
Constitution Day celebrates the day that the United States Constitution was adopted by the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It can be considered the birthday of the United States government. The day also celebrates US citizenship and is often called Citizenship Day.
When is Constitution Day celebrated?
It is celebrated on September 17th, the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. If this day falls on the weekend, many schools will pick the closest Friday or Monday to celebrate the day.
Who celebrates this day?
The day is mostly observed or celebrated by educational systems such as libraries and schools.
What do people do to celebrate?
Schools and libraries observe this day by having special educational programs and activities which help students learn about the Constitution. They study subjects like the history of the Constitution, the many important amendments, and the Bill of Rights.
Many school systems set aside the entire week as Constitution Week.
Activities to try on Constitution Week
- Learn about the Constitution - Go here to read more about the US Constitution, then go here to take a quiz. How did you do?
- Poster Contest - Have students each draw and create a poster about the Constitution. The posters which best represent the Constitution win a prize.
- Amendment Contest - Have the students memorize the Bill of Rights and the rest of the amendments. You can then play a contest sort of like a spelling bee. Each student has to repeat an amendment or they are out. Keep going until you have a few champions.
History of Constitution Day
After the American Revolution the US government was ruled by a document called the Articles of the Confederation. Unfortunately this document did not give the government the power it needed to maintain a government.
In 1787 the Constitutional Convention gathered to improve the Articles of the Confederation. They decided to create a new Constitution. The new Constitution created the federal government and included a balance of power across three branches of government: the Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch, and the Judicial Branch.
The Constitution was adopted by the Convention on September 17, 1787. This is the day we celebrate today as Constitution Day.
In the early 1900s various states began to celebrate Constitution Day. In 1940 Congress designated the third Sunday in May as I am an American Day. Later, in 1952, they moved the day to September 17th and called it Citizenship Day. The day was renamed to Constitution Day in 2004.
Fun Facts About Constitution Day
- Louisville, Ohio calls itself Constitution Town as one of its leaders was influential in getting the 17th established as Constitution Day.
- President James Madison wrote much of the Constitution and is called the Father of the Constitution.
- The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are called the Bill of Rights.
- There were two competing plans including the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. They agreed to a compromise called the Great Compromise today.
- The famous start of the US Constitution is called the Preamble.
September Holidays
Labor Day
Grandparents Day
Patriot Day
Constitution Day and Week
Rosh Hashanah
Talk Like a Pirate Day
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