Jonah Patel
The ratification of the U.S. Constitution was a long and complex process that took several years. On September 28, 1787, Congress sent the proposed new Constitution out to the states for consideration and ratification. The Constitution was ultimately ratified when the ninth participating state, New Hampshire, ratified it on June 21, 1788. Some states, such as Delaware, approved the new Constitution quickly, while others, like New York and Virginia, took longer. The ratification of the Constitution was a significant moment in U.S. history, as it created a stronger central government with greater powers to protect the rights, safety, and happiness of its citizens.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | June 21, 1788 |
| Number of states required to ratify | 9 |
| States that ratified quickly | Smaller states, e.g. Delaware |
| States that took longer to ratify | Larger states, e.g. New York, Virginia |
| Reason for ratification | Stronger, more centralised government needed |
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What You'll Learn
The Articles of Confederation were inadequate
The Articles of Confederation did not include a Congress with the power to tax, a President to act as the nation's chief executive, or a national court system. These were all features of the new Constitution, which was proposed and created at a constitutional convention led by New York's Alexander Hamilton. The convention was initially intended to amend the Articles of Confederation, but it ultimately resulted in the proposal and creation of a completely new form of government.
The ratification of the new Constitution took several years, with some states ratifying it almost immediately and others requiring several ratifying conventions. Smaller states like Delaware approved the new Constitution quickly, while larger states like New York and Virginia took longer. New York, for example, ratified the Constitution only after Virginia had done so and because it did not want to be the last large state to adopt the new system of government.
The formal and informal deliberations about the principles of government defined the republican nature of the new US government. The sovereign people ultimately decided to accept a new Constitution with a central government wielding greater powers to protect their rights, safety, and happiness.
The Constitution's Ratification: A Historical Journey
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The Constitution created a stronger central government
The Constitution was ratified because it created a stronger central government. Under the Articles of Confederation, the unity of the nation had been tested, and the government was so powerless that it was feared it would soon dissolve. The Constitution created a Congress with the power to tax, a President who would act as the nation’s chief executive, and a national court system.
The process of ratification took several years. On September 28, 1787, Congress unanimously sent the proposed new Constitution out to the states for consideration and ratification. Smaller states like Delaware approved the new Constitution quickly, while larger states like New York and Virginia took longer. New York ratified the Constitution only after Virginia had done so, and because it did not want to be the last large state to adopt the new Constitution.
The formal and informal deliberations about the principles of government defined the republican nature of the new US government. The sovereign people ultimately decided to accept a new Constitution with a central government wielding greater powers to protect their rights, safety, and happiness.
James Madison's Role in Ratifying the Constitution
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The process of ratification took several years
Larger states like New York and Virginia took longer to ratify the Constitution. New York only did so after Virginia had ratified it, and because it did not want to be the last large state to adopt the new Constitution. New York also conditionally ratified the Constitution, calling for another convention to propose a bill of rights.
The lengthy process of ratification was due in part to the fact that the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation, which allowed states to act more like independent, sovereign countries. This meant that the states had to be individually invited to send representatives to the Convention to participate in the proposal and creation of a completely new form of government.
The new Constitution created a stronger central government that included a Congress with the power to tax, a President who would act as the nation’s chief executive, and a national court system.
The Constitution and New York: Ratification and Beyond
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Some states ratified the Constitution almost immediately
The ratification of the US Constitution was a process that took several years. Some states ratified the Constitution almost immediately, while others required several ratifying conventions. Smaller states like Delaware approved the new Constitution quickly, while larger states like New York and Virginia took longer. New York, for example, ratified the Constitution only after Virginia had done so, and because it did not want to be the last large state to adopt the new Constitution.
The country was governed by the Articles of Confederation until the new Constitution was ratified. This document was tailored to a newly formed nation made of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries. It became clear to some of America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralised government. The unity of the nation had been sorely tested under the Articles of Confederation. Washington, for example, feared that the current government was so powerless that it would soon dissolve. While the Constitution was not perfect, it created a stronger central government that included a Congress with the power to tax, a President who would act as the nation's chief executive, and a national court system.
James Madison's Advocacy for Constitution Ratification
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New York only ratified the Constitution after Virginia had done so
The ratification of the U.S. Constitution transpired when the ninth participating state, New Hampshire, ratified it on June 21, 1788. Some states had ratified the Constitution almost immediately, while others required several ratifying conventions. The process took several years. Until the new Constitution was ratified, the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation. It quickly became clear to some of America’s leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralized government.
Washington, in fact, feared the current government was so powerless that it would soon dissolve either from deteriorating support of the people or from the fact that states would no longer bother to send representatives to the Confederation Congress. While the Constitution was not perfect, it created a stronger central government that included a Congress with the power to tax, a President who would act as the nation’s chief executive, and a national court system.
The Constitution: Ratification vs. Signing
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Frequently asked questions
The unity of the nation had been tested under the Articles of Confederation, which were tailored to a newly formed nation made of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries. It became clear to some of America’s leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralized government.
New York’s Alexander Hamilton led the call for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation’s governing document.
The initial purpose of the Convention was for the delegates to amend the Articles of Confederation.
The outcome of the Convention was the proposal and creation of a completely new form of government.
The ratification process took several years. Some states ratified the Constitution almost immediately, while others required several ratifying conventions.
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