Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and it took approximately three years for it to be ratified by the required nine out of thirteen states, with New Hampshire becoming the ninth state to ratify it on June 21, 1788. However, it was not until May 29, 1790, that the Constitution was ratified by all thirteen states, with Rhode Island being the last to approve it. The process of drafting and ratifying the Constitution spanned almost six years, from March 25, 1785, to January 10, 1791.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the Constitution was signed | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 38 out of 41 |
| Date the Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America | June 21, 1788 |
| State that became the ninth of 13 states to ratify the Constitution | New Hampshire |
| Date when the Constitution was ratified by all states | May 29, 1790 |
| Date when the Bill of Rights was ratified to become part of the Constitution | December 15, 1791 |
| Date of the first presidential election | December 15, 1788 |
| Date the new government was set to begin | March 4, 1789 |
| Date when the first draft of the Constitution was presented | May 25, 1787 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787
The convention was characterised by intense debates and compromises. One of the most contentious issues was congressional representation. The delegates grappled with whether it should be based on population or divided equally among the states. They ultimately struck a balance, agreeing to a compromise that considered both population and state representation. This compromise, known as the "three-fifths compromise", counted enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person for representation purposes.
Another critical aspect of the convention was the decision-making process. The delegates, wary of centralised power and loyal to their respective states, sought to create a powerful central government while addressing the challenges posed by wildly differing interests and views. They crafted a system that balanced state representation with a strong central authority, setting a precedent for the future direction of American governance.
The Constitutional Convention culminated in the signing of the new U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, by 38 out of 41 delegates present. This document, crafted over several months, established a new framework for the nation's government. The signing of the Constitution marked the conclusion of the convention, and the delegates set out the terms for its ratification. It was agreed that the Constitution would require ratification by nine of the 13 states to come into effect, bypassing the state legislatures and instead relying on special ratifying conventions in each state.
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The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The United States Constitution, which was signed on September 17, 1787, is one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions globally. The signing of the Constitution was the culmination of a long and arduous journey that began with concerns about the inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution. The Articles gave the Confederation Congress powers to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, or print money. This led to disputes among the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening the young nation's stability.
Recognizing the need for a stronger, more centralized government, Alexander Hamilton of New York led the call for a constitutional convention. Representatives from all 13 states convened in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, with the initial purpose of amending the Articles of Confederation. However, the convention ultimately resulted in the proposal and creation of a new form of government. The delegates, wary of centralized power and loyal to their states, crafted a powerful central government through compromises on contentious issues such as congressional representation and slavery.
The final draft of the Constitution was presented to the convention by the Committee of Style and Arrangement, composed of Alexander Hamilton, William Johnson, Rufus King, James Madison, and Gouverneur Morris. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing for an absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39 signatures. The delegates agreed that the document would not be binding until ratified by nine of the 13 existing states. The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
The ratification process was not without opposition. Some states voiced concerns over the lack of protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and press. The compromise reached in Massachusetts, known as the "vote now, amend later" strategy, played a crucial role in securing ratification in that state and eventually in the final holdouts. New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify on June 21, 1788, establishing the Constitution as the official framework of the government of the United States. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document, and the Bill of Rights was ratified at the end of the following year.
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New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution
The United States Constitution was ratified by New Hampshire on June 21, 1788, when it became the ninth state to do so. The road to ratification, however, was not straightforward. New Hampshire was a Jacksonian stronghold, and its political habits and traditions were deeply rooted. Town governments took priority, and towns often sent instructions with their representatives on how to vote. The guiding political principle in New Hampshire was a constant jealousy of popular liberties, and any measure or constitution that seemed to threaten that sense of freedom was consistently opposed.
The New Hampshire convention opened in Exeter on February 13, 1788, and began a section-by-section discussion of the Constitution. Four issues provoked extended debate: congressional representation, the slave trade, the direct taxation of the people, and the need for a bill of rights. The first three issues were resolved through compromise, but the fourth remained a sticking point. The Federalists, who believed that a strong central government was necessary to face the nation's challenges, needed to convert at least three states. The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, fought hard against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had just overthrown, and it lacked a bill of rights.
When the convention adjourned suddenly after meeting for only a week, it sent shock waves around the country and dismayed Federalists. When the convention reassembled in mid-June, no one could predict the outcome. New Hampshire defied expectations at several points, and its story proved all the more interesting because of its unpredictability. Ultimately, New Hampshire achieved the honor of casting the decisive ninth vote, and the Constitution was officially established and took effect for those nine states.
The ratification of the Constitution was a significant milestone in the history of the United States. It replaced the Articles of Confederation, which had been America's first constitution but lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce or print money. The Constitution created a stronger, more centralized government and addressed the disputes between the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade. The process of ratification, which took place over several years, demonstrated the contingent nature of the adoption of the Constitution, with each state playing a crucial role in shaping the future of the nation.
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The Constitution was ratified by all states by May 29, 1790
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and ratified by all 13 states by May 29, 1790. The road to ratification was long and challenging, as the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation, which gave states significant autonomy. The Constitution aimed to establish a stronger, more centralized government, which was a contentious issue.
The Constitutional Convention, led by Alexander Hamilton, convened in Philadelphia in May 1787. The delegates decided to draft a new constitution, bypassing the state legislatures and calling for special ratifying conventions in each state. The new constitution required ratification by nine of the 13 states to take effect. Delaware was the first state to ratify on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
The ratification process was a closely contested affair, with Federalists and Anti-Federalists engaging in a fierce debate. The Federalists, including James Madison and Hamilton, advocated for a strong central government. Meanwhile, Anti-Federalists opposed the creation of a powerful central government and demanded a bill of rights. The ""vote now, amend later" compromise in Massachusetts was a pivotal moment, securing its ratification and influencing other states.
New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify on June 21, 1788, establishing the Constitution as the official framework of the US government. Over the next two years, more states ratified the Constitution, with Virginia and New York doing so with their own amendments. Rhode Island was the final state to approve the document on May 29, 1790, achieving unanimous ratification.
The process of establishing the Constitution as the governing framework of the United States spanned several years, with the Bill of Rights being ratified at the end of 1791. The Constitution has endured as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions worldwide.
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The Bill of Rights was ratified by the end of 1791
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 of the 41 delegates present, with one delegate signing on behalf of another, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island became the final state to approve the document.
The Bill of Rights, a series of amendments to the Constitution, was ratified by the end of 1791. The journey to ratifying the Constitution was a long and arduous process, and the document faced staunch opposition from Anti-Federalists, who believed that it created a powerful central government and lacked a bill of rights.
The Bill of Rights came about as a compromise to address these concerns. On February 1788, the Massachusetts Compromise was reached, which stipulated that amendments would be proposed to protect rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. These amendments became the Bill of Rights, which was ratified by the end of 1791, on December 15.
The Bill of Rights consists of twelve articles of amendment to the Constitution, which were approved by the Senate and passed by the House without a recorded vote. The first ten amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, were ratified by the states and became part of the Constitution on December 15, 1791. The eleventh amendment was proposed and sent to the states for ratification in 1794, and the twelfth amendment was proposed and ratified in 1803 and 1804, respectively.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was approved on September 17, 1787, and it took around 3 months to draft.
On June 21, 1788, the US Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America.
The US Constitution was ratified by all 13 states on May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
