Malcolm Rivera
The ratification of the US Constitution was a complex process that took place in the late 18th century. Following the drafting of the document by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, the Constitution had to be ratified by the states. This was a challenging task, as the states needed to agree to ratify the Constitution for it to become the official law of the land. The Constitution required ratification by a majority of nine out of thirteen states to be passed. The first steps towards ratification occurred before and during the Constitutional Convention, with a widespread campaign to convince the people of the need for revision of the Articles of Confederation to maintain the Union.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of states needed to ratify | 9 out of 13 |
| Type of majority needed | Majority |
| Type of government created | Stronger central government |
| Powers of Congress | Power to tax |
| Role of President | Chief executive |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution needed to be ratified by a majority of states (9 out of 13)
The unity of the nation had been sorely tested under the Articles of Confederation. The current government was so powerless that it would soon dissolve either from deteriorating support of the people or from the fact that states would no longer bother to send representatives to the Confederation Congress. The Constitution created a stronger central government that included a Congress with the power to tax, a President who would act as the nation’s chief executive, and a national court system.
The Constitution became the official law of the land when the ninth state, New Hampshire, ratified it in 1788.
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The Articles of Confederation needed to be revised to maintain the Union
The Constitution created a stronger central government that included a Congress with the power to tax, a President who would act as the nation's chief executive, and a national court system. 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.
On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia voted to approve the document they had drafted over the course of many months. Some did not support it, but the majority did. Before it could become the law of the land, however, the Constitution faced another hurdle. It had to be ratified by the states. Article VII, the final article of the Constitution, required that before the Constitution could become law and a new government could form, the document had to be ratified by nine of the thirteen states.
The Constitution became the official law of the land when the ninth state, New Hampshire, ratified it in 1788.
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The Constitution created a stronger central government
The Constitution was drafted by delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. It was then approved by a majority of the delegates on September 17, 1787. However, before it could become the law of the land, it had to be ratified by the states. Article VII, the final article of the Constitution, required that the document be ratified by nine of the thirteen states.
The first steps in ratifying the new Constitution occurred before and during the meeting of the Constitutional Convention. 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.
The Constitution became the official law of the land when the ninth state, New Hampshire, ratified it in 1788.
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The Constitution faced opposition
David Humphreys of Connecticut wrote to George Washington shortly after the Convention adjourned that “the well-affected have not been wanting in efforts to prepare the minds of the citizens for the favorable reception of whatever might be the result of your Proceedings. . . . Judicious & well-timed publications have great efficacy in ripening the judgment of men.”
In his correspondence, Washington clearly laid out the reasons why he believed the Constitution should be ratified. The unity of the nation had been sorely tested under the Articles of Confederation. Washington, in fact, feared the current government was so powerless that it would soon dissolve either from deteriorating support of the people or from the fact that states would no longer bother to send representatives to the Confederation Congress. While the Constitution was not perfect, it created a stronger central government that included a Congress with the power to tax, a President who would act as the nation’s chief executive, and a national court system.
On September 17, 1787, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia voted to approve the document they had drafted over the course of many months. Some did not support it, but the majority did. Before it could become the law of the land, however, the Constitution faced another hurdle. It had to be ratified by the states. Article VII, the final article of the Constitution, required that before the Constitution could become law and a new government could form, the document had to be ratified by nine of the thirteen states. The Constitution became the official law of the land when the ninth state, New Hampshire, ratified it in 1788.
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The Constitution was drafted over the course of many months
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.
George Washington, in his correspondence, laid out the reasons why he believed the Constitution should be ratified. He argued that the unity of the nation had been sorely tested under the Articles of Confederation. Washington feared that the current government was so powerless that it would soon dissolve, either from deteriorating support of the people or from the fact that states would no longer bother to send representatives to the Confederation Congress. While the Constitution was not perfect, it created a stronger central government that included a Congress with the power to tax, a President who would act as the nation's chief executive, and a national court system.
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Frequently asked questions
The first steps in ratifying the new constitution occurred before and during the meeting of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in May 1787.
The Constitution needed to be ratified by 9 out of 13 states.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia voted to approve the document they had drafted over the course of many months.
In his correspondence, Washington laid out the reasons why he believed the Constitution should be ratified. He feared the current government was so powerless that it would soon dissolve.
The Constitution created a stronger central government that included a Congress with the power to tax, a President who would act as the nation’s chief executive, and a national court system.
