“If the day should ever arrive, (which God forbid!), when the people of the different parts of our country shall allow their local affairs to be administered by prefects sent from Washington, and when the self-government of the states shall have been so far lost as that of the departments of France, or even so far as that of the counties of England–on that day the progressive political career of the American people will have come to an end, and the hopes that have been built upon it for the future happiness and prosperity of mankind will be wrecked forever.” – John Fiske, historian, quoted in “Our Changing Constitution” by Charles W. Pierson, Doubleday, Page & Company, 1922.

September 17 is designated each year as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day by 36 United States Code §106 (PDF). This day is meant to commemorate the signing of the Constitution. It is also meant to recognize those who, by coming of age or NATURALIZATION (in contrast to amnesty) have become citizens of these States united.

This is not to be confused with Bill of Rights day, which is December 15, nor the ratification of the Constitution. This is the day the Constitution was signed by the representatives at the Constitutional Convention. It was not ratified until 1789 and not by all thirteen colonies. The Bill of Rights would not be added until two-years after that.

According to the law cited,

The civil and educational authorities of States, counties, cities, and towns are urged to make plans for the proper observance of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day and for the complete instruction of citizens in their responsibilities and opportunities as citizens of the United States and of the State and locality in which they reside.

Across the country schools will, no doubt, be having students color pictures of the Constitution brown without reading at it. No sense having a discussion on the condition of the colonies at the time (sometimes called history) or the words of the founding fathers.

So it will be up to you to actually study the Constitution on your own. Here are some recommendations.

The Constitution was not a popular idea. There were those for ratification (The Federalists) and those against (Anti-Federalists).

You can read the government-approved Federalist Papers. These are not the only Federalists arguments. You can read arguments by both groups in Essays on the Constitution of the United States. You can read it online or download it to your Kindle or smart phone.

You can find more Anti-Federalist arguments here. Of particular interest are those of the write under the pseudonym of Brutus. You can also do a search on State constitutional ratification debates. You might find it interesting that Patrick Henry—whose Give Me Liberty speech helped thrust us into the War for Independence—was a staunch Anti-Federalist. Particularly national government control of the militia. Much of his thinking is reflected in the Anti-Federalists writings. In his day political correctness meant knowing your rights, speaking out for them and using force to protect them, if necessary.

Another good read is Experiments in Government and the Essentials of the Constitution by Elihu Root. This was written in 1913 about the same time as Woodrow Wilson was starting the destruction of the United States.

If you are of the video generation, here are some good movies. The Crossing staring Jeff Daniels explores the crossing of the Delaware River into New Jersey to attack the Hessian soldiers on Christmas Eve. John Adams is mini-series which takes you through the life of John Adams from the beginning of revolutionary thought in Massachusetts through the death of the second President of the United States. There is, of course, the fictional depiction of the War for Independence entitled The Patriot staring Mel Gibson.