Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution was voted on and ratified in 1787 and 1788. The document was drafted by delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, and it was signed by 38 of the 41 delegates present. The Constitution required ratification by nine of the 13 existing states to become law. By January 9, 1788, five states had approved the Constitution, and by June 21, 1788, nine states had approved it, making it the official framework of the government of the United States of America.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | 21 June 1788 |
| Number of states required for ratification | 9 out of 13 |
| Number of states that had approved the Constitution by January 1788 | 5 |
| Number of states that had approved the Constitution by May 1788 | 8 |
| Number of states that had approved the Constitution by June 1788 | 9 |
| Vote margin in Virginia | 89 to 79 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution was ratified by nine of the 13 states
The ratification process began in May 1788, with eight states having already approved the Constitution. The vote was taken on June 25, with the Constitution being approved by a margin of 89 to 79. Washington believed that Virginia was the ninth state to approve the document, but news arrived that New Hampshire had approved it first.
Five states of the nine necessary for ratification had approved the Constitution by January 9, 1788: 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.
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The vote was approved by a margin of 89 to 79
The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process. The initial purpose of the Convention was to amend the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates ultimately proposed and created a completely new form of government. The Constitution was drafted over several months and signed by 38 out of 41 delegates on September 17, 1787.
Before the Constitution could become the law of the land, it had to be ratified by the states. This was a challenging process, as some states, such as Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia, were pivotal in the outcome. The Federalists played a crucial role in lobbying for votes in favour of ratification, and their efforts, along with those of other supporters, eventually led to the successful ratification of the Constitution.
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Five states had approved the Constitution by January 9, 1788
By January 9, 1788, five states had approved the Constitution: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. This was out of the nine states necessary for ratification. The eventual outcome remained uncertain in pivotal states such as Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia.
The Constitution was drafted by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, who voted to approve the document on September 17, 1787. However, it had to be ratified by the states before it could become law. Article VII of the Constitution required ratification by nine of the thirteen states.
The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process. The country was governed by the Articles of Confederation, which allowed the states to act more like independent, sovereign countries. It became clear to some of America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralised government.
On February 6, 1788, Massachusetts ratified the Constitution by a vote of 187 to 168. The revolutionary leader, John Hancock, presided over the Massachusetts ratifying convention but was unable to make up his mind on the Constitution. He was eventually seduced by the Federalists with visions of the vice presidency and possibly the presidency, and he delivered a critical block of votes.
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Massachusetts ratified by a vote of 187 to 168
The US Constitution was voted on and ratified by the states. On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia voted to approve the document they had drafted over the course of several months. However, before it could become the law of the land, it had to be ratified by nine of the thirteen states.
Massachusetts was one of the pivotal states whose eventual decision was uncertain. On February 6, 1788, Massachusetts ratified the Constitution by a vote of 187 to 168. The Federalists had agreed to recommend a list of amendments amounting to a bill of rights, and this helped to sway the vote. 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, when he was seduced by the Federalists with visions of the vice presidency and possibly the presidency, he suddenly experienced a miraculous cure and delivered a critical block of votes.
On June 21, 1788, the Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it.
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The Articles of Confederation were amended to create a new form of government
On September 17, 1787, the Convention concluded with the signing of the new U.S. Constitution. Under Article VII, it was agreed that the document would not be binding until its ratification by nine of the 13 existing states. By January 9, 1788, five states of the nine necessary for ratification had approved the Constitution: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
On February 6, with Federalists agreeing to recommend a list of amendments amounting to a bill of rights, Massachusetts ratified by a vote of 187 to 168. At the start of the ratification convention in Richmond in May of 1788, eight states had already approved the Constitution. On June 21, 1788, the Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it.
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Frequently asked questions
Nine of the 13 states were required to ratify the Constitution.
Five states had approved the Constitution by this date: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
On June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it.
