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We the People

Here’s the story behind one of the most famous phrases in U.S. history.

September 7, 2026
By Ellen Song

Stock Montdage/Getty Images

Gouverneur Morris

The United States officially gained its independence from Great Britain in 1783. But four years later, the 13 states were hardly united. For example, each state printed its own money and passed its own laws. Americans saw themselves more as citizens of their states than as citizens of the U.S. 

At the time, the states were loosely held together by a weak central government. There wasn’t even a president. Many Americans believed a different system was needed. 

In May 1787, delegates representing their home states gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They decided to write a plan for a new federal, or national, government. That document would be known as the U.S. Constitution. 

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A Powerful Beginning

The delegates spent nearly four months debating how the government should be set up. Finally, they came to an agreement. Gouverneur Morris of Pennsylvania was in charge of finalizing the Constitution’s wording. He is credited with writing the document’s famous first words: “We the People of the United States.” 

“The phrase made clear that the Constitution gets its power from the American people, not from a king, a group of states, or government officials,” explains Julie Silverbrook. She’s an expert at the National Constitution Center. 

On September 17, 1787, a total of 39 delegates signed the new U.S. Constitution. Today “we the people” celebrate Constitution Day on September 17.

Famous First Words

The Preamble, or introduction, to the Constitution describes the document’s goals. 
 

We the People of the United States (1), in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility (2), provide for the common defence (3), promote the general welfare (4), and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity (5), do ordain and establish (6) this Constitution for the United States of America. 

1. This phrase highlights that the citizens of the United States hold the power in the country.

2. peacefulness

3. Some words are spelled differently in Britain than in the U.S. The Constitution has some British spellings, such as “defence” instead of “defense.” The word means “protection from harm.”

4. state of health, happiness, and comfort

5. future generations

6. officially create

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