Malcolm Rivera
The ratification of the US Constitution was a long and arduous process. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, but it wasn't ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document. The journey to ratification involved lobbying efforts led by Hamilton and Madison, who produced the 85 essays known as The Federalist Papers to explain and defend the proposed new government. The terms of the Massachusetts Compromise, reached in February 1788, also played a role, as it stipulated that amendments would be proposed to protect rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and press.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | 21 June 1788 |
| First state to ratify | Delaware |
| Date of first state ratification | 7 December 1787 |
| Number of states that ratified | 13 |
| State that made the Constitution official | New Hampshire |
| Number of signatures | 39 |
| Date of amendments | 25 September 1789 |
| Number of amendments | 17 |
| Number of amendments adopted by Congress | 12 |
| Date of Bill of Rights ratification | 15 December 1791 |
| Date all states ratified | 29 May 1790 |
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What You'll Learn
The Federalist Papers
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on 7 December 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia and Connecticut. However, some states voiced opposition to the Constitution on the grounds that it did not provide protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion and the press.
The Massachusetts Compromise, reached in February 1788, stipulated that amendments to that effect—what became the Bill of Rights—would be immediately proposed. Madison introduced 17 amendments to the Constitution born from the Massachusetts Compromise, of which Congress adopted 12 on 25 September 1789, to send forth to the states for ratification.
The Constitution was not ratified by all states until 29 May 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document. The Bill of Rights was not ratified to become part of the Constitution until the end of the following year.
Federalists and the Constitution: Support and Ratification
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The Residence Act
To address these concerns, the Massachusetts Compromise was reached in February 1788, stipulating that amendments—what became the Bill of Rights—would be immediately proposed. Madison introduced 17 amendments to the Constitution born from the Massachusetts Compromise, of which Congress adopted 12 on September 25, 1789, 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 Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
Virginia's Constitution Ratification: The Deciding Factors
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The Massachusetts Compromise
The Compromise led to the introduction of amendments to the Constitution, which became the Bill of Rights. These amendments were designed to protect the aforementioned rights and freedoms. Madison introduced 17 amendments, of which Congress adopted 12 to send to the states for ratification. Ten of these, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
The Constitution's Ratification: Popular Vote or Not?
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The Bill of Rights
The US Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
How Federalist Papers Influenced the Constitution's Ratification
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The Articles of Confederation
The United States Constitution was ratified in 1787, but the journey to ratification was a long and arduous process. Until the new Constitution was ratified, the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation. This document was 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.
One of the main issues with the Articles of Confederation was that they did not provide for a strong executive branch. The central government had no power to enforce its laws or collect taxes. This led to a lack of stability and effectiveness in the government. Additionally, the Articles did not provide for a national court system, which made it difficult to resolve disputes between states.
Recognising the need for a stronger central government, leaders such as Alexander Hamilton led the call for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation's governing document. This resulted in the creation of the United States Constitution, which established a federal system with a separation of powers and a system of checks and balances.
The process of ratifying the Constitution was not without its challenges. Some states voiced opposition to the Constitution on the grounds that it did not provide protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. However, the terms of the Massachusetts Compromise reached in February 1788 stipulated that amendments to that effect—what became the Bill of Rights—would be immediately proposed.
The Constitution: A Vote of Citizen Confidence?
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Frequently asked questions
The Massachusetts Compromise was reached in February 1788 and stipulated that amendments would be immediately proposed to protect rights such as freedom of speech, religion and press. These amendments became the Bill of Rights.
Alexander Hamilton led the call for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation’s governing document. Hamilton and Madison then led the lobbying efforts for votes in favour of ratifying the Constitution. They produced the 85 essays known as “The Federalist Papers” that explained and defended how the proposed new government would function.
Jefferson would persuade Madison to back Hamilton’s Funding Act, thereby garnering him the votes it would need to pass. In return, Hamilton would help Jefferson and Madison secure the votes needed to pass the Residence Act.
