Simone Lawson
The US Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth and final state necessary to ratify the document, making it the law of the land. The Constitution was drafted over the course of several months by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, who voted to approve it on September 17, 1787. Before it could become law, however, the Constitution had to be ratified by nine of the thirteen states. By January 9, 1788, five states had approved the Constitution: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. But the outcome remained uncertain in pivotal states such as Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia. On February 6, Massachusetts ratified the Constitution, with Federalists agreeing to recommend a list of amendments amounting to a bill of rights.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | 21 June 1788 |
| Number of states required to ratify | 9 out of 13 |
| Number of states that had ratified by January 9, 1788 | 5 |
| States that had ratified by January 9, 1788 | Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut |
| States that were pivotal but uncertain | Massachusetts, New York, Virginia |
| Date Massachusetts ratified | 6 February 1788 |
| Number of amendments introduced by Madison | 17 |
| Number of amendments Congress adopted | 12 |
| Date the Constitution was ratified by all states | 29 May 1790 |
| Date the Bill of Rights was ratified | 15 December 1791 |
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What You'll Learn
- The majority of delegates approved the Constitution on September 17, 1787
- The Constitution had to be ratified by nine of the thirteen states
- Five states had approved the Constitution by January 9, 1788
- Massachusetts ratified the Constitution on February 6, 1788
- Rhode Island was the last state to approve the Constitution on May 29, 1790
The majority of delegates approved the Constitution on September 17, 1787
On September 17, 1787, the majority of delegates approved the Constitution, signing a document they had drafted over the course of many months. The new US Constitution created a strong federal government with an intricate system of checks and balances. However, before it could become the law of the land, the Constitution had to be ratified by the states. Article VII, the final article of the Constitution, required that the document be ratified by nine of the thirteen states.
By January 9, 1788, five states had approved the Constitution: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The outcome remained uncertain in pivotal states such as Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia. On February 6, Massachusetts ratified the Constitution by a vote of 187 to 168, after Federalists agreed to recommend a list of amendments amounting to a bill of rights. The revolutionary leader, John Hancock, was seduced by the Federalists with visions of the vice presidency and possibly the presidency, and delivered a critical block of votes.
On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth and last necessary state to ratify the Constitution, thereby making the document the law of the land. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document. The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791, and became part of the Constitution at the end of the following year.
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The Constitution had to be ratified by nine of the thirteen states
The Constitution of the United States had to be ratified by nine of the thirteen states. By January 9, 1788, five states had approved the Constitution: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. However, the outcome remained uncertain in pivotal states such as Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia. On February 6, Massachusetts ratified the Constitution, with Federalists agreeing to recommend a list of amendments amounting to a bill of rights. The revolutionary leader, John Hancock, was elected to preside over the Massachusetts ratifying convention but was unable to make up his mind on the Constitution. However, he was later seduced by the Federalists with visions of the vice presidency and possibly the presidency, and he suddenly experienced a miraculous cure and delivered a critical block of votes. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth and last necessary state to ratify the Constitution, making it the law of the land. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
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Five states had approved the Constitution by January 9, 1788
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia voted to approve the document on September 17, 1787, and copies were sent to each of the states to be ratified. The Constitution was still evolving, with amendments being introduced and ratified by the states.
On February 6, 1788, Massachusetts ratified the Constitution by a vote of 187 to 168. John Hancock, the revolutionary leader, was elected to preside over the Massachusetts ratifying convention but was initially unable to make up his mind. However, he was later persuaded by the Federalists with visions of the vice presidency and possibly the presidency, and he delivered a critical block of votes.
On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth and final state necessary to ratify the Constitution, making it the law of the land. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
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Massachusetts ratified the Constitution on February 6, 1788
The Federalists played a key role in securing Massachusetts' ratification. They agreed to recommend a list of amendments amounting to a bill of rights, which swayed the vote in their favour. The revolutionary leader, John Hancock, who had been unable to make up his mind on the Constitution, was also persuaded to support the Federalists. Madison noted that Hancock was "an idolater of popularity", and he was seduced by the possibility of becoming vice president or even president. Hancock suddenly experienced a miraculous cure from his gout and delivered a critical block of votes.
The ratification of the Constitution by Massachusetts was a significant step forward in the process of creating a strong federal government with an intricate system of checks and balances. The Constitution aimed to address the defects in the post-Revolutionary War Articles of Confederation, such as the lack of central authority over foreign and domestic commerce. The ratification by Massachusetts brought the country one step closer to achieving this goal.
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Rhode Island was the last state to approve the Constitution on May 29, 1790
The US Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth and final state necessary to ratify the document. However, Rhode Island was the last state to approve the Constitution, doing so on May 29, 1790.
The Constitution was drafted over several months by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. On September 17, 1787, the delegates voted to approve the document. However, before it could become the law of the land, it had to be ratified by the states. Article VII of the Constitution required ratification by nine of the thirteen states.
By January 9, 1788, five states had approved the Constitution: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The outcome remained uncertain in pivotal states such as Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia. On February 6, the Federalists agreed to recommend a list of amendments amounting to a bill of rights, and Massachusetts ratified the Constitution.
Rhode Island, however, held out until 1790. The small state had concerns about the impact of the Constitution on its local affairs and sovereignty. It also had a strong tradition of independence and self-governance. Rhode Island's ratification of the Constitution marked the end of a long and challenging process, and the beginning of a more unified and stable United States.
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Frequently asked questions
Nine out of thirteen states needed to ratify the Constitution.
Five states had ratified the Constitution by this date: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
The Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth and final state to approve the document.
Massachusetts ratified the Constitution by a vote of 187 to 168.
Ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
