Blog Post  We the People: The Origins of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

Ring the Liberty Bell to Celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day! According to the National Park Service, "Thanks to modern computer modeling, we may have a closer idea of exactly how the Bell sounded when Benjamin Franklin heard it. In 1999, graduate students from Pennsylvania State University were able to digitally create a structural model of the Liberty Bell. From this computer model, they were able to mathematically equate the vibration of the Bell and add sound."

September 17^th marks the annual observation of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, which “encourages citizens to learn about their civic responsibilities and opportunities.”¹

As law librarians, our mission is to provide access to justice by way of assisting members of the public and legal community in locating materials helpful to their circumstances or immediate needs. These materials generally include primary law (sources that state the actual law) or secondary law (sources that discuss or explain the law). A foundational document from which these materials spring is the U.S. Constitution, and you may be surprised to learn that Massachusetts played a major role in its creation!

The U.S. Constitution established the federal government of the United States. It was signed on September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia and was formally adopted by the states in 1788. The Massachusetts State Constitution (drafted in 1780 by a committee led by John Adams) acted as a key model and influenced its framework. Although small-scale annual commemorations of the U.S. Constitution’s signing date back to 1861, it wasn’t until after President Grover Cleveland recognized these events on a presidential-level during the 1887 centennial celebration that the commemorations became more widespread. He encouraged “every American…on this centennial day [to] rejoice in his citizenship."²

In the late 1930s, a movement to honor new American citizens took shape and was advocated by William Randall Hearst, a prominent newspaper publisher and politician. This gave rise to a proclamation from President Franklin D. Roosevelt establishing “I Am An American Citizen Day” in 1940. Its purpose was so "the sovereign citizens of our Nation [are] prepared for the responsibilities and impressed with the significance of their status in our self-governing Republic."³

In 2004, Congress combined both observances into one celebration, renaming it Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, which we celebrate today! On this day, we reflect on where our nation started, how far we have come, and our future direction. We celebrate the many cultures that have blended to create the diverse community we see today, and contemplate how we can contribute to a prosperous and responsible society.

To learn more about legislation and other relevant proclamations, remarks, resources and reports pertaining to this observance, the Library of Congress has compiled a comprehensive fact sheet, which can be found at the following link: Constitution Day and Citizenship Day: Fact Sheet | Library of Congress.

Other pages aligning with the mission of this day:

• Introduction - Constitution of the United States: Primary Documents in American History - Research Guides at Library of Congress
• The U.S. Constitution | Constitution Center
• I'm an American | USCIS
• Massachusetts law about immigration | Mass.gov
• Citizenship | Mass.gov
• John Adams & the Massachusetts Constitution | Mass.gov
• Massachusetts Constitution, General Laws, session laws & bills | Mass.gov

Tomorrow on the Massachusetts Law Libraries’ Blog: "The Ratification of the United States Constitution".

Authored by Gina Varuzzo, Franklin Law Library.

Footnotes

1. Susan Groux, Library of Congress, “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day: Fact Sheet.”
2. U.S. President (Cleveland), "Remarks At The Commercial Exchange, Philadelphia, During The Centennial Celebration Of The Adoption Of The Constitution, September 16, 1887," The Public Papers of Grover Cleveland, 22^nd President of U.S., Mar. 4, 1885 to Mar. 4 1889 (1889), p. 262.
3. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Proclamation 2402 "I Am An American Day" 1940, May 3, 1940.