Who actually hand wrote the U.S. Constitution?

Asked by: Dr. Gage Leannon  |  Last update: March 25, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (71 votes)

The U.S. Constitution was actually hand-written (engrossed) by Jacob Shallus, an assistant clerk for the Pennsylvania Assembly, onto parchment in September 1787, creating the official document for the delegates to sign, though James Madison and others drafted the content. Shallus meticulously copied the approved text, making some corrections, and the delegates signed the beautiful final version on September 17, 1787.

Who actually wrote the Constitution of the United States?

The original U.S. Constitution was handwritten on five pages of parchment by Jacob Shallus. The final document was taken up on Monday, September 17, at the convention's final session.

Who hand wrote the original Constitution?

Prem Behari Narain Raizada. Prem Behari Narain Raizada (1901–1966) was an Indian calligrapher. He is notable for being the calligrapher who hand-wrote the Constitution of India.

Who wrote the Constitution, Thomas Jefferson or James Madison?

Thomas Jefferson was the principal drafter of the Declaration and James Madison of the Bill of Rights; Madison, along with Gouverneur Morris and James Wilson, was also one of the principal architects of the Constitution.

Did the founding fathers put God in the Constitution?

No, the Founding Fathers did not put God in the U.S. Constitution; the document is notably silent on God and religion, a deliberate choice reflecting a consensus on separating church and state, though the Declaration of Independence did mention a Creator and the Articles of Confederation used "Great Governor of the World," while the Constitution includes a "Year of our Lord" in its date and bars religious tests for office in Article VI and the First Amendment protects religious freedom.
 

The Constitutional Convention | May to September, 1787

24 related questions found

Did all 613 laws come from God?

Yes, the 613 mitzvot (commandments) in Judaism are traditionally considered to have been given by God to Moses at Mount Sinai, forming the core of the Torah, though the Bible doesn't explicitly state the number 613; Jewish tradition, particularly Maimonides' work, compiled and enumerated them from the texts of the Torah, with the Ten Commandments serving as a summary of these broader laws. The exact list and interpretation vary, with some laws being ceremonial, moral, or judicial, and not all are applicable today. 

What did Albert Einstein say about Christianity?

Albert Einstein viewed traditional Christianity and organized religion as "childish superstitions" and "primitive legends," rejecting the concept of a personal God who rewards and punishes, but expressed deep awe for the universe's rational structure, aligning with a cosmic religious feeling often linked to Spinoza's God, a non-personal divine harmony. He described himself as an agnostic and was uncomfortable with being labeled an atheist, preferring to focus on ethical principles and the mystery of existence rather than dogma.
 

Who are the 4 fathers of the United States?

Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison served as the first four presidents; Adams and Jefferson were the nation's first two vice presidents; Jay was the nation's first chief justice; Hamilton was the first secretary of the treasury; Jefferson was the first secretary of state; and Franklin was America's most senior ...

Why did Thomas Jefferson not support the Constitution?

Chief among his objections was the lack of a bill or rights “providing clearly & without sophisms” for fundamental rights. He rejected James Wilson's arguments that a bill of rights was unnecessary to protect against powers that were not specifically reserved to the new government.

Did James Madison have children with slaves?

According to the history told by eight generations of my family's griots, Madison had a relationship with one of his slaves, Coreen, that resulted in the birth of a son, Jim, who was sold and sent away when he was a teenager.

Who were the two main authors of the Constitution?

James Madison

After the Constitution had been written and signed, Madison then wrote the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. These 85 essays explained the significance of the Constitution, in an effort to persuade states to ratify.

What is Article 371 A to J?

The articles in it range from Article 371 A to J. The clauses have temporary, transitional, and special provisions. The purpose of this article is to protect the interests of the population belonging to backward regions. It further seeks to protect the economic and cultural interests of the population.

Why was Raizada chosen to write the Constitution?

Role in the Constitution of India

When the Constituent Assembly of India decided that the final version of the Constitution should be hand-written rather than printed, Raizada was chosen for the monumental task. His mastery of calligraphy and reputation for precision made him the ideal candidate.

Who were the 5 people who wrote the Constitution?

Five key framers of the U.S. Constitution include James Madison (the "Father of the Constitution"), George Washington (President of the Convention), Benjamin Franklin (elder statesman), Alexander Hamilton (advocate for strong central government), and James Wilson (key theorist on representation). Other influential figures were Gouverneur Morris, George Mason, and Roger Sherman, while the "Committee of Five" (Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, Livingston, Sherman) drafted the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitution itself.
 

Is James Monroe a founding father?

James Monroe (/mənˈroʊ/ mən-ROH; April 28, 1758 – July 4, 1831) was an American Founding Father who served as the fifth president of the United States from 1817 to 1825.

Who wrote the entire Constitution?

Ambedkar was the architect of the constitution, little is known about the man who penned the constitution in his own impeccable calligraphy. Prem Behari Narain Raizada (Saxena) of Delhi wrote the entire constitution in a flowing italic style in the best calligraphic tradition of our country.

Did Thomas Jefferson pay off the national debt?

Federal spending rose substantially under Presidents George Washington and John Adams, but then flattened under Jefferson between 1801 and 1809. Federal debt fell from $83 million in 1801 to $57 million in 1809.

What did Thomas Jefferson say about Christianity?

He wrote his friend Benjamin Rush, “I am a Christian, in the only sense he [Jesus] wished any one to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines, in preference to all others;ascribing to himself every human excellence; and believing he never claimed any other.” Jefferson believed that the New Testament was written by ...

Who wrote the preamble?

The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution was primarily written by Gouverneur Morris, a statesman and delegate to the Constitutional Convention, who served on the Committee of Style and is known as the "Penman of the Constitution" for refining the final document's language, including the iconic "We the People" phrase. He crafted it late in the convention as an introduction to the Constitution, explaining its purpose.
 

Which founding father was not born in America?

48 of the 56 signers were born in America. Two were born in England (Button Gwinnett, Robert Morris), two in Ireland (George Taylor, Matthew Thornton), two in Scotland (James Wilson, John Witherspoon), one in Northern Ireland (James Smith), and one in Wales (Francis Lewis).

What did the founding fathers say about Jews?

The Founding Fathers held diverse views on Jews, ranging from strong support for religious liberty (Washington, Adams, Hamilton) to criticisms of Judaism (Jefferson), but collectively established a framework where Jews were recognized as full citizens under the First Amendment, ensuring freedom of conscience and protection from persecution, though some underlying biases existed. George Washington famously promised "to give to bigotry no sanction" in a letter to the Newport synagogue, while Jefferson saw religious freedom encompassing Jews but expressed negative theological views, and others like Benjamin Franklin and John Adams showed both admiration and ambivalence, highlighting a complex mix of Enlightenment ideals and historical prejudices.
 

How many of the founding fathers owned slaves?

A majority of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and nearly half of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention owned slaves. Four of the first five presidents of the United States were slaveowners.

Which scientist believed in God?

Many renowned scientists across history and in modern times have believed in God, including foundational figures like Isaac Newton, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler, and Blaise Pascal, alongside later figures such as Michael Faraday, Gregor Mendel, Werner Heisenberg, Arthur Compton, and contemporary scientist and geneticist Francis Collins, demonstrating that faith and scientific pursuit are not mutually exclusive for many brilliant minds.
 

Did Einstein believe in afterlife?

He clarified, however, that, "I am not an atheist", preferring to call himself an agnostic, or a "religious nonbeliever." In other interviews, he noted his belief in a cosmic "lawgiver" who sets the laws of the universe. Einstein also stated he did not believe in life after death, adding "one life is enough for me."

Why do scientists believe in God?

In a 1930 New York Times essay, he described a “cosmic religious sense,” a deep appreciation for “the totality of existence as a unity full of significance.” Not only have “the religious geniuses of all times” shared this cosmic religious feeling, he wrote, but it also is “the strongest and noblest motive for ...