On September 17, 1787, the Founders signed the US Constitution in Philadelphia, establishing the United States of America and thus a grand experiment in democratic governance. Federal law requires all public schools that receive federal funds to teach age-appropriate material related to the Constitution during the week that includes September 17.
Since 1787, there have been 27 amendments to the document, the first ten (also known as the Bill of Rights) were ratified shortly after the Constitution's inception. Though this is a remarkably small number of changes considering the 238-year-history of the Constitution, it also speaks volumes about the built-in flexibility the Constitution has provided to make necessary changes when the people demand it. Some changes, such as the 27th (and latest) amendment, required immense patience. Ratified in 1992, the 27th Amendment was first proposed in 1790, taking 202 years to finally see passage, further illustrating the resilience of the democratic process that has guided our nation.
The First Amendment, often viewed as the most important, broadly encompasses the freedoms of religion, peaceful assembly, and speech. The Founders knew that a true democracy could not long survive if these freedoms were routinely threatened. National events over the last week have punctuated the fragility of free speech, specifically, in a civilized society. An act of barbarism, directed at one individual in an attempt to silence free speech and civic discourse, has the chilling effect of diminishing and threatening the rights of all of us. The Founders further understood that vigorous and honest debate, free of violence, was essential if the nation was to thrive- and -even survive. Benjamin Franklin said it this way: "Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom, and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech."
The Founders knew that the Constitution they drew up was not a finished product and was, in some instances, a deeply flawed one. But the constitutional mechanisms that were designed to be responsive to a growing and evolving nation have proven to outlast its vulnerabilities and helped us move forward even during tumultuous times. In fact, the Preamble leaves no doubt about the Founders' intentions to "To form a more perfect union," knowing that the work to do so would never be fully realized. It is an enduring relic, and one that must be taught to each new generation, so that it continues to be a living, breathing document that both guides and adjusts in a changing world. But it must be protected by each successive generation. For more information, check out these resources from the National Archives: Constitution Day resources.