The Long Road To Ratification: America's Constitution

The ratification of the U.S. Constitution was a complex process that took place between 1787 and 1790. The first steps towards ratification occurred before and during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in May 1787, when a campaign took place to convince the people that the Articles of Confederation needed to be revised. The delegates at the Convention then determined the method most likely to ensure their proposal's adoption, deciding that nine states would be appropriate to implement the Constitution among the ratifying states. The Constitution was then sent to the states for debate and ratification votes, with the required nine of thirteen states ratifying the Constitution by June 21, 1788, making it the official framework for the government of the United States of America. All thirteen states eventually ratified the Constitution by May 29, 1790.

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The Constitutional Convention

The delegates at the convention knew that the unanimity requirement of the Articles would doom any hopes of ratification. They felt it necessary to obtain majorities of both states and people. On August 31, the delegates decided that nine states would be appropriate to implement the Constitution among the ratifying states. This was the number of states necessary in the Confederation Congress to adopt important matters such as borrowing money, declaring war, ratifying treaties, and admitting new states into the Union.

A Committee of Detail prepared a draft Constitution for delegates to begin reviewing in early August. On September 17, 1787, 39 of the Constitutional Convention's 55 delegates signed the U.S. Constitution. It was then sent to the states for debate and ratification votes.

Between December 7, 1787, and June 21, 1788, the required nine of 13 states ratified the Constitution, making it the official framework for the government of the United States of America. All 13 states eventually ratified the U.S. Constitution by May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.

The Articles of Confederation

By the mid-1780s, it became clear that the Articles of Confederation were inadequate for governing the growing nation. The federal government lacked the power to effectively address economic and political issues, such as the inability to regulate commerce between the states and the lack of a strong executive branch. As a result, a widespread campaign emerged throughout the country to convince the people that the Articles needed to be revised.

The Constitutional Convention was convened in Philadelphia in May 1787 to address these issues and draft a new constitution. The delegates to the Convention, including George Washington, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin, debated and negotiated the provisions of the new constitution, which included a stronger federal government with three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The new constitution also included a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.

The delegates to the Constitutional Convention knew that obtaining ratification for the new constitution would be challenging, as it required the approval of nine out of thirteen states. They also faced opposition from some states, such as Rhode Island, which was not even represented at the Convention. Despite these challenges, the delegates worked to build support for the new constitution and address the concerns of the states.

On September 17, 1787, 39 of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the new U.S. Constitution. It was then sent to the states for debate and ratification votes. Between December 7, 1787, and June 21, 1788, the required nine states ratified the Constitution, making it the official framework for the government of the United States. All 13 states eventually ratified the Constitution by May 29, 1790, with Rhode Island being the last state to approve the document.

The Bill of Rights

The Constitution was ratified by nine of 13 states between 7 December 1787 and 21 June 1788, making it the official framework for the government of the United States of America. All 13 states eventually ratified the Constitution by 29 May 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.

The first steps in ratifying the new constitution occurred before and during the meeting of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in May 1787. A widespread, uncoordinated campaign took place throughout the country to convince the people that the Articles of Confederation needed to be revised to maintain the Union.

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The Massachusetts Compromise

As a result of the Compromise, Madison introduced 17 amendments to the Constitution, of which Congress adopted 12 to send forth to the states for ratification. Ten of those amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. The Compromise played a crucial role in ensuring the ratification of the Constitution, as it addressed the concerns of the Anti-Federalists and paved the way for the document to be accepted by a majority of states.

The ratification process for the Constitution was a complex and lengthy one. The delegates at the Constitutional Convention recognised that obtaining the unanimity required by the Articles of Confederation was unlikely, given the absence of Rhode Island and the expected opposition from New York. They, therefore, sought to obtain majorities of both states and people, with nine states deemed necessary to implement the Constitution. This decision proved crucial, as it allowed for the ratification of the Constitution by nine states between December 7, 1787, and June 21, 1788, making it the official framework for the government of the United States.

The First Federal Elections

The ratification of the US Constitution was a complex process that took place over several years. The first steps towards ratification occurred before and during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in May 1787. A widespread campaign took place to convince the people that the Articles of Confederation needed to be revised.

The next step was for the delegates to determine the method most likely to ensure the adoption of their proposal. With Rhode Island not represented in the Convention and New York likely to oppose any significant transfer of power from the states to Congress, the delegates knew that unanimity would be impossible. They decided that nine states would be appropriate to implement the Constitution among the ratifying states.

A draft Constitution was prepared and reviewed by the delegates in early August 1787. On September 17, 1787, 39 of the 55 delegates signed the US Constitution. It was then sent to the states for debate and ratification votes. Between December 7, 1787, and June 21, 1788, the required nine of 13 states ratified the Constitution, making it the official framework for the government of the United States of America.

All 13 states eventually ratified the US Constitution by May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document. The Constitution was further amended with the addition of the Bill of Rights, which was ratified on December 15, 1791.

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