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U.S. Constitution.net

What was Constitution Day called?

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by

Eleanor Stratton
in

What was Constitution Day originally called?

The holiday was initially named "I Am an American Day." William Randolph Hearst proposed creating a celebration of American citizenship in 1939. In 1940, Congress took action:

  • Designated the third Sunday in May as "I Am an American Day"
  • President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the resolution

This day aimed to honor those who had gained U.S. citizenship either by reaching adulthood or through naturalization.

A 1940s celebration of I Am an American Day with patriotic crowds waving American flags

Why was the name changed to Citizenship Day?

In the early 1950s, Olga T. Weber from Louisville, Ohio, played a key role in transforming the holiday. Weber's campaign included:

  1. Petitioning to move the holiday to September 17, the anniversary of the Constitution's signing
  2. Gaining local and state support
  3. Bringing her cause to the federal level

Congress approved her requests, leading to significant changes:

  • Renaming the holiday to "Citizenship Day"
  • Officially changing the observance date to September 17

President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the legislation into law in 1952.

Weber's efforts ensured that Citizenship Day not only highlighted the significance of American citizenship but also paid homage to the Constitution. Her campaign demonstrated how an individual can influence national traditions.

Olga T. Weber presenting her petition for Citizenship Day to government officials

How did Citizenship Day and Constitution Day combine?

Louise Leigh, a retired medical technologist from California, started a campaign in 1997 to have Congress recognize Constitution Day as a national holiday. Her efforts gained support from Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia.

In December 2004, Congress passed a bill establishing Constitution Day and Citizenship Day as a combined event, to be observed on September 17 each year. The legislation required:

  • Educational institutions receiving federal funds to hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on this date
  • Federal agencies to provide their employees with educational materials about the Constitution

By combining Citizenship Day and Constitution Day, this legislation created a unified celebration that honors the privileges and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship while emphasizing the principles established by the Founding Fathers.1

"How has this combined holiday impacted your understanding of the Constitution and American citizenship?"

  1. Michals D. Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. National Women's History Museum. 2015.