Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution was ratified on 21 June 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process, with debates raging in taverns, halls and homes throughout the eastern seaboard. The Confederation Congress endorsed the initiative, and representatives from all 13 states were subsequently invited to the convention in Philadelphia on 25 May 1787.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | 21 June 1788 |
| Number of colonies that had ratified the Constitution before this date | Eight |
| Number of colonies that had not ratified the Constitution before this date | Five |
| Number of colonies that ratified the Constitution on this date | One |
| Colony that ratified the Constitution on this date | New Hampshire |
| Total number of colonies that ratified the Constitution | 13 |
| Date the last colony ratified the Constitution | 29 May 1790 |
| Colony that was the last to ratify the Constitution | Rhode Island |
| Reason Rhode Island resisted ratifying the Constitution | Opposed federal control of currency and was critical of compromise on the issue of slavery |
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What You'll Learn
The ratification of the US Constitution by New Hampshire
The need for a new constitution arose from the defects in the post-Revolutionary War Articles of Confederation, which lacked a central authority over foreign and domestic commerce. In 1786, Congress endorsed a plan to draft a new constitution, and on May 25, 1787, the Constitutional Convention convened at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The new Constitution, which created a strong federal government with an intricate system of checks and balances, was signed by 38 of the 41 delegates present at the conclusion of the convention.
However, as dictated by Article VII, the document would not become binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 states. New Hampshire's ratification was a crucial step in this process, bringing the country closer to establishing a stronger, more centralized government. The ratification of the Constitution by New Hampshire and the subsequent formation of a federal government marked a significant shift in the country's governance, moving away from the previous system where states acted more like independent, sovereign countries.
The Constitution: Written, Ratified, and Signed
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The ratification of the US Constitution by Rhode Island
The journey towards the ratification of the US Constitution by all 13 colonies was a long and arduous process. The Constitutional Convention, which began in May 1787, aimed to address the defects in the post-Revolutionary War Articles of Confederation, which lacked a central authority over foreign and domestic commerce. The new Constitution created a strong federal government with an intricate system of checks and balances.
By June 1788, only eight of the 13 colonies had ratified the Constitution. The ratification process involved debates in taverns, halls, and homes throughout the eastern seaboard. New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution on 21 June 1788, making it the official framework of the US government. North Carolina followed suit in November 1789, becoming the 12th state to ratify the Constitution.
Rhode Island's eventual ratification of the Constitution marked a pivotal moment in the unification of the 13 colonies under a centralised government. The US Constitution, ratified by all 13 colonies, remains the oldest written constitution in operation in the world today.
The Constitution: Ratification for a United Future
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The ratification of the US Constitution by North Carolina
The US Constitution was ratified by North Carolina in November 1789, making it the 12th state to do so. Rhode Island was the last of the original 13 colonies to ratify the document, in May 1790.
The ratification of the US Constitution was a long and arduous process. The Confederation Congress endorsed a plan to draft a new constitution in 1786, and on 25 May 1787, the Constitutional Convention convened at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The new constitution was signed by 38 of the 41 delegates present on 17 September 1787, after three months of debate. The document would not become binding, however, until it was ratified by nine of the 13 states.
By June 1788, only eight of the 13 colonies had ratified the Constitution. On 21 June 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the document, making it the official framework of the government of the United States of America.
The journey to ratification was a contentious one, with debates raging in taverns, halls and homes throughout the eastern seaboard. Rhode Island, for example, opposed federal control of currency and was critical of compromise on the issue of slavery. The state only ratified the Constitution when the US government threatened to sever commercial relations.
The Constitution's Ratification: A Debate's Conclusion
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The debate over the ratification of the US Constitution
The ratification of the US Constitution was a long and arduous process. By 1786, it was clear that the Articles of Confederation, which governed the country at the time, were not fit for purpose. The Articles were tailored to a newly formed nation made of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries, and lacked a central authority over foreign and domestic commerce.
In 1787, New York's Alexander Hamilton led the call for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation's governing document. The Confederation Congress endorsed his initiative, and representatives from all 13 states were invited to Philadelphia to participate in the Convention. After three months of debate, the new US Constitution was signed by 38 of the 41 delegates present.
However, the document would not become binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 states. As debates raged throughout the eastern seaboard in June 1788, only eight of the 13 colonies had ratified the Constitution. Eventually, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, and it became the official framework of the government of the United States of America.
North Carolina and Rhode Island initially resisted ratifying the Constitution. North Carolina eventually became the 12th state to ratify the Constitution in November 1789. Rhode Island, which opposed federal control of currency and was critical of compromise on the issue of slavery, only voted to ratify the document in May 1790, after the US government threatened to sever commercial relations with the state.
The Power to Ratify Treaties
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The Articles of Confederation
In 1787, the Confederation Congress endorsed a plan to draft a new constitution. Representatives from all 13 states were invited to a convention in Philadelphia to participate in the process. After three months of debate, the new U.S. Constitution was signed by 38 of the 41 delegates present. The document would not become binding, however, until it was ratified by nine of the 13 states.
By June 1788, only eight of the 13 colonies had ratified the Constitution. New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it, making the Constitution the official framework of the government of the United States. North Carolina became the 12th state to ratify the Constitution in November 1789, and Rhode Island was the last of the original 13 colonies to join the United States in May 1790.
The Branches' Ratification: A United Decision
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, eventually.
Eight of the 13 colonies had ratified the Constitution by June 1788.
New Hampshire was the ninth colony to ratify the Constitution.
Rhode Island was the last of the 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution.
Rhode Island opposed federal control of currency and was critical of compromise on the issue of slavery.
