Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution was approved on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The road to ratification was long and arduous, with fierce arguments over congressional representation and slavery threatening to derail the process. The Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, had given the Confederation Congress rule-making and funding powers, but it lacked enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, and couldn't print money. The convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with delegates swearing secrecy so they could speak freely. Initially intended to revise the Articles, the convention ultimately led to the creation of a new form of government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the Constitutional Convention assembled | May 1787 |
| Location of the convention | Philadelphia |
| Purpose of the convention | To revise the Articles of Confederation |
| Outcome of the convention | Proposal and creation of a new form of government |
| Date the convention concluded | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of delegates who signed the new Constitution | 38 out of 41 |
| Number of states needed for ratification | 9 out of 13 |
| First state to ratify the Constitution | Delaware |
| Date of Delaware's ratification | December 7, 1787 |
| Date the Constitution became the official framework of the US government | June 21, 1788 |
| State that became the ninth to ratify the Constitution | New Hampshire |
| Date Rhode Island approved the Constitution | May 29, 1790 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitutional Convention assembles in Philadelphia, 1787
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was a pivotal moment in American history, setting in motion the creation of a new governing framework for the nation. The convention took place in Philadelphia, with delegates from 12 of the 13 states gathering in the Pennsylvania State House, later known as Independence Hall. The convention was convened due to growing concerns about the inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation, which had been the country's first constitution. The Articles had granted the Confederation Congress rule-making and funding powers but lacked enforcement mechanisms, commerce regulation, and money-printing authority. The young nation faced territorial disputes, disagreements over war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening its stability.
The initial purpose of the convention was to amend the Articles of Confederation. However, leaders like Alexander Hamilton of New York and James Madison of Virginia envisioned a complete overhaul of the government. The delegates, including George Washington, unanimously elected as the convention's president, sought to address these issues and forge a stronger, more centralised government. They shuttered windows, ensured privacy, and engaged in passionate debates.
One of the most contentious issues was congressional representation. Delegates argued over whether it should be based on population or divided equally among the states. A compromise was reached, with the House of Representatives allocated based on population and the Senate providing equal representation. Another challenging topic was slavery, with delegates agreeing to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person and allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808.
The convention witnessed intense discussions, compromises, and the drafting of a new constitution. By mid-July, progress accelerated with the Connecticut Compromise, which addressed lingering disagreements. A Committee of Detail was appointed to create a draft constitution, incorporating these compromises. This draft underwent further modifications and was finalised in early September. On September 17, 1787, the delegates voted on the proposed constitution, and 39 of the 55 delegates signed it, marking a significant step towards its ratification.
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 laid the foundation for a new governing framework for the United States, reflecting the delegates' wisdom and commitment to addressing the challenges facing the young nation. The convention's outcome, the proposed constitution, would undergo a ratification process, with the goal of achieving approval from at least nine of the 13 states to become the official governing document of the country.
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Delegates agree to redesign the government
The United States Constitution was approved on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. However, the journey to ratification was long and arduous.
Initially, the delegates of the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. However, by mid-June, they had decided to completely redesign the government. This decision was driven by concerns that the Articles of Confederation gave too little power to the central government, making it difficult to regulate commerce, print money, and resolve disputes between states.
The delegates faced fierce arguments over congressional representation, with differing views on whether it should be based on population or divided equally among the states. A compromise was reached, agreeing to representation in the House of Representatives based on population and equal representation in the Senate. They also agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person, and temporarily resolved the issue of slavery by allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808.
The delegates' decision to redesign the government was influenced by the belief that a strong central government was necessary for the nation's stability and to address the challenges it faced. The Federalists, including James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, led the lobbying efforts for votes in favor of ratifying the Constitution. They produced "The Federalist Papers," a collection of 85 essays explaining and defending how the proposed new government would function.
The ratification process was not without opposition. The Anti-Federalists fought against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government and lacked a bill of rights. However, compromises, such as the Massachusetts Compromise, helped secure enough states' approval. The Constitution was officially ratified when Rhode Island, the final state, approved it on May 29, 1790.
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The new Constitution is drafted and signed
The drafting of the new Constitution was prompted by concerns about the Articles of Confederation, which gave the Confederation Congress limited powers and no enforcement powers, and the fear that the young country was on the brink of collapse. The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with delegates from all 13 states in attendance. The delegates initially intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, but by mid-June, they had decided to create a new form of government.
The Convention witnessed fierce debates over congressional representation, with delegates compromising by agreeing to direct taxation according to representation and representation in the lower house based on the white population and three-fifths of "other people". They also agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person and temporarily resolved the issue of slavery by allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808.
The new Constitution was drafted by a Committee of Detail appointed by the Convention. On September 17, 1787, the Convention concluded with the signing of the new Constitution by 38 of the 41 delegates present. The document was then submitted to the Confederation Congress in New York City, the nation's temporary capital.
Under Article VII, the new Constitution required ratification by nine of the 13 existing states to become binding. The first state to ratify 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, making the Constitution the official framework of the US government.
The ratification process faced opposition from Anti-Federalists who objected to the creation of a powerful central government and the absence of a bill of rights. However, the Federalists, who advocated for a strong central government, successfully lobbied for votes in favour of ratification. The Massachusetts Compromise, which stipulated that amendments protecting rights would be proposed, helped secure victory in several states. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island, the final holdout, approved the document.
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Nine of 13 states ratify the document
The U.S. Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 out of 41 delegates present. However, it was agreed that the document would only become binding once it was ratified by nine of the 13 existing states.
The Constitution was intended to replace the Articles of Confederation, which had been America's first constitution. The Articles had given the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, and it couldn't regulate commerce or print money. This led to disputes between the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear the young nation apart.
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787, with delegates from all 13 states. The delegates initially intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, but by mid-June, they had decided to completely redesign the government. One of the fiercest arguments was over congressional representation, with delegates ultimately compromising by agreeing that each state would have one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate.
The Federalists, who believed in a strong central government, led the lobbying efforts for votes in favour of ratifying the Constitution. They were opposed by the Anti-Federalists, who fought against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government and lacked a bill of rights. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. By January 9, 1788, five states had approved the Constitution, and the tide turned in Massachusetts, where the "vote now, amend later" compromise helped secure victory.
Finally, on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, making it the official framework of the U.S. government.
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The Bill of Rights is ratified
The United States Constitution was approved by a majority of states in 1788, but it was not until 1791 that the Bill of Rights was ratified and added to the Constitution. The Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments to the Constitution.
The original US Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, and it couldn't regulate commerce or print money. America’s leaders soon realised that future stability required a stronger, more centralised government. In 1787, delegates from all 13 states convened in Philadelphia to propose and create a new form of government.
The delegates initially gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation, but by mid-June, they had decided to completely redesign the government. The convention was contentious, with disputes arising over congressional representation and slavery. The delegates eventually agreed to count every 30,000 people in a state as one representative in the House of Representatives and two in the Senate, and they agreed that the slave trade could continue until 1808.
The new Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and it was agreed that it would not be binding until its ratification by nine of the 13 existing states. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, and New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it on June 21, 1788. However, Rhode Island did not approve the document until May 29, 1790.
Opponents of the Constitution objected that it lacked a bill of rights, and in order to secure ratification, James Madison agreed to support adding a bill of rights and even served as its author. Madison introduced a list of amendments to the Constitution on June 8, 1789, and Congress approved twelve articles of amendment on September 25, 1789, submitting them to the states for ratification. Articles Three through Twelve were ratified as additions to the Constitution on December 15, 1791, becoming Amendments One through Ten.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia in May 1787 with the initial purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation, which had been the first constitution of the United States. The Articles had given the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, and couldn't print money. However, the delegates ultimately decided to completely redesign the government.
The delegates of the Constitutional Convention swore secrecy so they could speak freely. They compromised on congressional representation, agreeing that each state would have one representative for every 30,000 people in the House of Representatives and two representatives in the Senate. They also agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person and temporarily resolved the issue of slavery by deciding that the slave trade could continue until 1808.
The new Constitution was signed by 38 out of 41 delegates present on September 17, 1787. It was then submitted to the Confederation Congress in New York City, the nation's temporary capital. The Constitution stipulated that it would not be binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 existing states. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, and New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it, on June 21, 1788, making it the official framework of the US government. The Bill of Rights was ratified at the end of 1791.
