11 things you didn't know about the US Constitution
- The Constitution of the United States serves as the foundation of government in the US.
- The document was drafted in 1787 and, at the time of writing, the document was only four parchment pages long and contained just 4,400 words.
- The Founding Fathers didn't actually intend to write the Constitution.
- A little-known lawyer was responsible for the final wording of the Constitution.
- The president was almost addressed as "His Highness."
The Constitution serves as the foundation of government in the United States and is one of the most influential documents ever drafted. However, the history and creation of those fabled pages include some unusual happenings and unexpected facts.
Here are a few things you likely never knew about the Constitution.
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The US constitution is the oldest in the world.
The US Constitution drafted in 1787 remains the world's oldest written national consultation still in use. At the time of writing, the document was only four parchment pages long and contained just 4,400 words. With the added amendments, the current constitution clocks in at 7,762 words.
Benjamin Franklin needed to be carried to the signing of the Constitution.
By the time of the Constitutional Convention, 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin was in such poor health that he needed to be carried in an enclosed sedan chair to the statehouse, according to "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life" by Walter Isaacson. The chair was supported by four prisoners from a nearby jail.
The president was almost addressed as "His Highness."
The Constitution does not indicate how the nation's president should be addressed. After the inauguration of President George Washington in 1789, the Senate considered a few different appellations.
According to the Mount Vernon estate, Vice President John Adams suggested options including "His Elective Majesty," "His Mightiness," and even "His Highness, the President of the United States of America and the Protector of their Liberties".
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