Isabella Carter
The ratification of the US Constitution was delayed by a number of factors, including the requirement of unanimous approval from state legislatures, which took three and a half years to achieve. The Articles of Confederation, which governed the country prior to the Constitution, were tailored to a newly formed nation of states acting as independent, sovereign countries. This led to a weak central government, which was addressed by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. The convention proposed a new form of government, which was then sent to the states for ratification. However, this process was delayed by opposition from some states, which believed that the Constitution did not adequately protect certain rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. The Constitution was eventually ratified by the required nine out of thirteen states on June 21, 1788, with the Bill of Rights being ratified in 1791.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the US Constitution was ratified | June 21, 1788 |
| State that made the Constitution official | New Hampshire |
| Number of states required for ratification | 9 out of 13 |
| First state to ratify the Constitution | Delaware |
| Date the first state ratified the Constitution | December 7, 1787 |
| States that opposed the Constitution | Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island |
| Date of the Constitutional Convention | May 25, 1787 - September 17, 1787 |
| Location of the Constitutional Convention | Philadelphia |
| Number of delegates who signed the Constitution | 38 out of 41 |
| Date the last state ratified the Constitution | May 29, 1790 |
| Last state to ratify the Constitution | Rhode Island |
| Date the Bill of Rights was ratified | December 15, 1791 |
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What You'll Learn
The Articles of Confederation
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 were familiar with the challenges posed by the Articles of Confederation. They proposed a model of government that relied upon a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. This new federal system would have three branches of government: an executive, legislative, and judicial branch. The executive would serve as President and act as the nation's chief executive.
The Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. However, it was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
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State vs federal power
The road to the ratification of the US Constitution was a long and arduous process. The country was governed by the Articles of Confederation, which was tailored to a newly formed nation made of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries. However, it soon became clear that future stability required a stronger, more centralized government. The greatest challenge to the ratification of the Constitution was the relative power of state and federal governments.
State Power
Under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government faced many challenges in conducting foreign policy, largely due to its inability to pass or enforce laws. The Articles of Confederation were ratified by seven states, with each state also submitting proposed amendments to the Articles. The authority inherent in the Articles of Confederation and the Confederation Congress rested on the consent of the states, and changes to the nation's government should have been ratified by the state legislatures. The state legislatures wanted to retain their power and resisted increasing the powers of the national government.
Federal Power
The framers of the Constitution believed that without the ability to maintain and command an army and navy, impose taxes, and force the states to comply with laws passed by Congress, the young nation would not survive for long. The Constitutional Convention delegates wanted the new constitution to be ratified by both a majority of states and a majority of the country's citizens. They added the requirement that nine states, instead of a simple majority of seven states, would be needed for ratification.
The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document. The ratification process was an unusual one, with the framers calling upon state legislatures to hold ratification conventions to approve the Constitution. This approach avoided asking the legislators to approve a document that would require them to give up some of their own power. The Constitution came into effect in 1789 and has served as the basis of the United States Government ever since.
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Opposition from Patrick Henry
The ratification of the US Constitution was a long and arduous process. The Articles of Confederation, which previously governed the country, were tailored to a newly formed nation of states acting as independent, sovereign countries. However, it became clear to some American leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralised government. This shift towards centralisation was met with opposition from Patrick Henry, a delegate to the Virginia Ratification Convention, who fervently advocated against ratification.
Patrick Henry's opposition to the ratification of the US Constitution was rooted in his preference for the Articles of Confederation, which he believed preserved state autonomy and limited the power of the national government. Henry, a strong anti-Federalist, argued that the proposed Constitution created a government that was too centralised and powerful. He believed that a centralised government with interconnected powers to tax, regulate, and maintain an army would erode state sovereignty and individual freedoms, marking a return to the grievances experienced under British colonial rule.
Henry's dedication to liberty and his skepticism of centralised power have left a significant mark on American history and political thought. He emphasised specific dangers he perceived in the Constitution, including the potential for government overreach and the suppression of dissent. His powerful oratory and unwavering principles provided valuable insight into the foundational debates shaping the young nation. Henry's insistence on the need for a Bill of Rights contributed to the subsequent adoption of the first ten amendments, which have become cornerstones of American liberty.
During the Virginia Ratification Convention in 1788, Henry delivered impassioned speeches, underscoring his commitment to revolutionary values of liberty and self-determination. He advocated passionately for explicit protections of individual liberties, which he believed were crucial to prevent government overreach and protect natural rights. Henry's rhetoric painted a future where centralised federal power could infringe on rights and seize property.
Despite Henry's efforts, the Virginia Convention ultimately voted in favour of ratification, influenced by assurances that amendments, including a Bill of Rights, would be forthcoming. The narrow margin of the vote—89 to 79—signified that Henry's concerns had resonated with a significant portion of the population. His opposition encapsulates his spirit as a defender of individual and state rights, reminding Americans of the importance of vigilance in preserving the freedoms and principles that form the nation's identity.
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No protection of rights
The absence of a Bill of Rights in the original US Constitution was a significant concern for several states, which delayed its ratification. The states wanted protection for fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. This issue was addressed through the Massachusetts Compromise in February 1788, which stipulated that amendments would be proposed to protect these rights, resulting in the Bill of Rights.
The lack of protection for individual rights and liberties was a major point of contention for many Americans. They feared that the new federal government, with its expanded powers, could infringe upon their freedoms. This concern was especially prominent in states like Massachusetts, which had a history of rejecting constitutions that were not approved by the people. The absence of a Bill of Rights threatened to derail the entire ratification process, as states demanded assurances that their rights would be safeguarded.
The Massachusetts Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, was a pivotal moment in addressing these concerns. It was agreed that amendments would be proposed to protect individual rights, and this paved the way for the Bill of Rights. The compromise was a crucial step towards unifying the nation and ensuring that the Constitution would be accepted by a majority of states and citizens.
The Bill of Rights, consisting of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, was eventually ratified on December 15, 1791. This marked a significant milestone in the evolution of the Constitution and the protection of individual liberties. The amendments guaranteed freedoms such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press, as well as the right to bear arms and protection from unreasonable searches and seizures.
The process of adding these amendments to the Constitution was a lengthy one. James Madison introduced 17 amendments as a result of the Massachusetts Compromise, and Congress adopted 12 of them. These were then sent to the states for ratification, with ten amendments ultimately becoming the Bill of Rights. This period was a critical phase in the development of the young nation, as it balanced the need for a stronger central government with the protection of individual freedoms.
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Ratification by nine states
The road to the ratification of the US Constitution was a long and arduous process. The Articles of Confederation, which served as the country's governing document prior to the Constitution, had been tailored to a newly formed nation made up 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.
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, which took place from May to September 1787, addressed the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The convention was led by Alexander Hamilton, who called for a constitutional convention to re-evaluate the nation's governing document. The convention resulted in the proposal and creation of a completely new form of government, outlined in the US Constitution.
The delegates to the convention determined that, to ensure a majority of citizens were represented, nine states would need to ratify the Constitution, rather than a simple majority of seven states. This was a strategic decision, as obtaining ratification from seven small states might not have provided a majority of people. The delegates wanted to demonstrate that the new constitution was established by the will of the people, rather than by a few political elites in state legislatures.
The Constitution was sent to each of the states, which held ratifying conventions to either accept or reject it. This approach to ratification was unusual, as it bypassed the state legislatures, ensuring that the Constitution's authority came directly from representatives of the people. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, satisfying the requirement for ratification. At this point, the Constitution became the official framework of the US government. The ratification process, however, was not complete, as four states had yet to ratify the document. The final state to ratify the Constitution was Rhode Island on May 29, 1790.
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Frequently asked questions
The initial purpose of the Convention was to amend the Articles of Confederation. However, the outcome was the proposal and creation of a new form of government.
The ratification process took time because the document had to be ratified by nine of the thirteen states, and the states held conventions to ratify the Constitution, which included public debates.
Some states opposed the Constitution because it did not provide protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. Others, like Virginia's Patrick Henry, feared that the newly created office of the president would place excessive power in the hands of one man.
George Washington, as the president of the Constitutional Convention, played a significant role in the ratification process. He ensured that delegates remained open to compromise and later actively promoted the ratification of the Constitution throughout various states.
