
The United States Constitution was ratified in 1789, after a long and arduous journey. The Constitution came into effect when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it on 21 June 1788. The new Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation, which had governed the country up until that point. The Articles had been designed for a newly formed nation of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries, but it soon became clear that a stronger, more centralised government was needed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | 21 June 1788 |
| State that ratified | New Hampshire |
| Number of states that ratified | 9 out of 13 |
| Date the Constitution came into effect | 1789 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Constitution was ratified in 1789, but the journey to ratification was long and arduous
- The Constitution was ratified by New Hampshire on June 21, 1788
- The Constitution was certified by the Congress of the Confederation on September 17, 1788
- The Constitution came into effect in 1789 and has served as the basis of the US government ever since
- The Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to foreign governments

The Constitution was ratified in 1789, but the journey to ratification was long and arduous
The United States Constitution was ratified in 1789, but the process of getting there was not straightforward. The Constitution was the result of a convention held in Philadelphia between May and September 1787. The convention was called to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation had been tailored to a newly formed nation made of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries. However, it quickly became clear to some of America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralised government.
The convention resulted in a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. Under the reformed federal system, many of the responsibilities for foreign affairs fell under the authority of an executive branch, although important powers, such as treaty ratification, remained the responsibility of the legislative branch.
The Constitution was ratified by the necessary number of states in 1789 and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since. The first state to ratify the Constitution was New Hampshire, on 21 June 1788. This was followed by Virginia on 25 June 1788, New York on 26 July 1788, and North Carolina on 21 November 1789. On 17 September 1788, the Congress of the Confederation certified the ratification of eleven states and passed resolutions setting dates for choosing the first senators and representatives, the first president, and officially starting the new government.
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The Constitution was ratified by New Hampshire on June 21, 1788
The US Constitution was ratified by New Hampshire on 21 June 1788. This was the date on which the Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America. New Hampshire was the ninth of 13 states to ratify the Constitution. The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process. The country was governed by the Articles of Confederation until the new Constitution was ratified.
The Constitution came into effect in 1789, and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since. The machinery of state had been designed by 1789, but it had not yet been tested or put to use.
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The Constitution was certified by the Congress of the Confederation on September 17, 1788
The US Constitution was certified by the Congress of the Confederation on September 17, 1788, after New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it on June 21, 1788. This was a significant milestone in the history of the United States, as the Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments. The Constitution came into effect in 1789, and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process. The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia met between May and September of 1787 to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation, which governed the country until the new Constitution was ratified, were tailored to a newly formed nation made of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries. However, it became clear to some of America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralised government. As a result, New York's Alexander Hamilton led the call for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation's governing document.
The ratification of the Constitution was a crucial step in the formation of the United States of America as a nation. It provided a framework for the government and established a federal system with specific powers, including the authority to conduct foreign relations. The Congress of the Confederation's certification of the ratification on September 17, 1788, was a significant moment in this process, paving the way for the election of the first president and the official start of the new government in 1789.
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The Constitution came into effect in 1789 and has served as the basis of the US government ever since
The US Constitution came into effect in 1789 and has served as the basis of the US government ever since. The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process. The Constitution was ratified on 21 June 1788 when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The Articles of Confederation, which governed the country until the new Constitution was ratified, was tailored to a newly formed nation made of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries. It quickly became clear to some of America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralised government.
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia met between May and September 1787 to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The United States Constitution that emerged from the convention established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to conducting relations with foreign governments.
After the necessary number of state ratifications, the Constitution came into effect in 1789. The machinery of state had been designed, but not yet tested and put to use. The provisions for management of foreign affairs would be put to the test in 1794, when the Senate had the opportunity to accept or reject the controversial treaty with Great Britain negotiated by John Jay.
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The Constitution established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to foreign governments
The US Constitution was ratified in 1789, and it established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to foreign governments. The Constitution came into effect after the necessary number of state ratifications, and it has served as the basis of the US government ever since.
The Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation, which had governed the country up until that point. The Articles of Confederation were tailored to a newly formed nation made of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries. However, it became clear to some of America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralised government. This led to Alexander Hamilton of New York calling for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation's governing document.
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia met between May and September 1787 to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution that emerged from the convention established a federal government with more specific powers, including the power to conduct relations with foreign governments.
Under the reformed federal system, many of the responsibilities for foreign affairs fell under the authority of an executive branch, although important powers, such as treaty ratification, remained the responsibility of the legislative branch. The Constitution thus established a federal government with more specific powers, including those related to foreign governments, and it has served as the basis of the US government ever since.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Constitution was ratified in 1789.
By 1789, 11 states had ratified the Constitution.
The date of ratification was 21 June 1788.

























