U.S. Constitution - September 17

Wedesday, September 17, 2025

Today is Constitution Day, Country Music Day, and Apple Dumpling Day.

Classical Music Resource of the Day: Great Performances: Breaking Down Classical Indian Music: Raga and Tala

 AMERICAN REVOLUTION HISTORY ON THIS DATE

1775 – American Revolutionary War: The invasion of Quebec by the Continental Army begins with the Siege of Fort St. Jean.

1778 – The Treaty of Fort Pitt is signed. It is the first formal treaty between the United States and a Native American tribe.

1787 – The United States Constitution is signed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, bringing the Constitutional Convention to an end.

Today's Birthdays
Songs of the Day
Today's Theme:  The U.S. Constitution

ON THIS DATE

• 1787 - The U.S. Constitution is signed in Philadelphia.
• 1849 - Abolitionist Harriet Tubman escapes from slavery.
• 1862 -  General George B. McClellan stops the northward push of General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army in the Battle of Antietam in Maryland. Over 23,000 are killed, wounded, or captured, making it the bloodiest day in U.S. military history.
• 1928 - The Okeechobee hurricane strikes southeastern Florida, killing more than 2,500 people.
• 1954 -  Lord of the Flies by William Golding is published.
• 1976 - NASA unveils the Space Shuttle Enterprise.
• 1978 - The Camp David Accords are signed by Israel and Egypt.
• 1983 - Vanessa Williams becomes the first Black Miss America.

BIRTHDAYS

• 1730 - Prussian and American military officer Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben
• 1802 - Physician Mercy B. Jackson
• 1859 - Outlaw Billy the Kid
• 1883 - Poet William Carlos Williams
• 1907 - Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Warren Burger
• 1923 - Musician Hank Williams
• 1935 - Author Ken Kesey
• 1939 - Supreme Court Justice and NH resident David Souter

SONGS OF THE DAY 

• Schoolhouse Rock - The Constitution - LISTEN
• Billy Joel - The Ballad of Billy the Kid - LISTEN
• Hank Williams - I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - LISTEN

THEME: THE CONSTITUTION

• Grades 3-5 - Liberty's Kids - We the People (23:09) - VIEW
• Grades 6-12 - National Archives - The U.S. Constitution Transcription - READ
• Grades 6-12 - National Constitution Center - Interactive Constitution - READ and EXPLORE
• Grades 6-12 - NHPBS LearningMedia - Constitution USA: A More Perfect Union Collection- VIEW, READ, DO
• Grades 8-12 - NHPBS Video - Constitution USA - A More Perfect Union (53:10) - VIEW
• Grades 6-12 - NHPBS LearningMedia - Constitution USA: It's a Free Country Collection - VIEW, READ, DO
  
• Grades 8-12 - NHPBS Video - Constitution USA - It's a Free Country (53:10) - VIEW
• Grades 6-12 - NHPBS LearningMedia - Teaching the Constitution Collection - VIEW, READ, DO
• Grades 8-12 - NHPBS Video - Constitution USA - Created Equal (53:11) - VIEW
• Grades 8-12 - NHPBS Video - Constitution USA - Built to Last (52:40) - VIEW
• Grades 7-12 - NHPBS LearningMedia - America From Scratch Should We Rewrite Our Constitution? (7:40)  - VIEW and DO
• Grades 9-12 - NHPBS LearningMedia - Regents Review - The Constitution (5:14) - VIEW
• Grades 9-12 - NHPBS Video - Crash Course Government - Constitutional Compromises (8:55) - VIEW
• Grades 9-12+ - Annenberg Learner - The Constitution: That Delicate Balance (13-part Series) - VIEW and DO
• Grades 9-12+ - Annenberg Learner - Democracy in America (15-part Series) - VIEW and DO
• Grades Professional Development - NHPBS LearningMedia - Making Civics Real - Constitutional Convention Workshop (58:20)  - VIEW
• Grades Professional Development - Annenberg Learner - Making Civics Real: A Workshop for Teachers (8-part Series) - VIEW and DO

Pressroom Contact

Carla Gordon Russell
Director of Communications
crussell@nhpbs.org
(603) 868-4339