Citizenship Day
Citizenship Day is observed on September 17, commemorating the anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution in 1787. This day arose from the merging of two earlier patriotic celebrations: Constitution Day and "I Am an American" Day. The origins of Constitution Day date back to 1861 in Philadelphia, where local citizens gathered to reaffirm their commitment to the Union during the Civil War. A significant centennial celebration occurred in 1887, attracting hundreds of thousands and marking the day’s growing importance. Throughout the early 20th century, various organizations worked to promote the observance, with many states participating by the 1920s. In 1952, Congress officially combined Constitution Day and "I Am an American" Day into Citizenship Day to underscore the connection between the Constitution and American citizenship. While Citizenship Day is recognized, it is not a federal holiday and does not enjoy widespread celebration, reflecting diverse perspectives on national identity and civic engagement.
Citizenship Day
September 17 is the anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution in 1787. Citizenship Day is the outgrowth of two patriotic celebrations: Constitution Day and “I Am an American” Day. The former observance first took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 17, 1861, shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War. Little is known about the 1861 exercises, aside from the fact that Philadelphians used the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution to reaffirm their devotion to the Union at a time when the secession of many Southern states threatened its very existence.
No other observance of September 17 seems to have occurred until 1887, when Philadelphians marked the centennial of the signing of the Constitution with a mammoth three-day celebration. Buildings throughout the city were draped in red, white, and blue bunting, and an estimated five hundred thousand visitors, including cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, and the governors of several states, joined Philadelphia residents to witness the many events.
The celebration of September 17 became more widespread during the first decades of the 20th century. Organizations such as the National Security League, the American Bar Association, and the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution devoted time and effort to popularizing the observance. As early as 1919, at least twenty-two states and one hundred cities sponsored special exercises on September 17 or took note of the anniversary in some other way.
A 1940 act of Congress set aside the third Sunday in May as “I Am an American” Day, and during the next twelve years festivities were held on that day to honor those who, by coming of age or by naturalization, had attained citizenship status. As independent celebrations, both Constitution Day and “I Am an American” Day enjoyed some minor popularity. Because of the close relationship between the Constitution and the duties and privileges of American citizenship, however, there was some opinion in favor of uniting the two observances. In response to this sentiment, Congress in 1952 united the two holidays. The new observance, known as Citizenship Day, has been observed ever since although it is not widely celebrated and is not a federal holiday.
Bomboy, Scott. "The Story of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day." The National Constitution Center, 14 Sept. 2023, constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-story-of-constitution-day-and-citizenship-day. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
"Commemorating Constitution Day and Citizenship Day." US Department of Education, 12 Sept. 2023, www2.ed.gov/policy/fund/guid/constitutionday.html. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.