Eleanor Finch
The ratification of the U.S. Constitution was a long and arduous process. The initial purpose of the Constitutional Convention was to amend the Articles of Confederation, but the outcome was a proposal for a new form of government. The new Constitution was sent to the states for ratification, and it was agreed that it would come into effect once nine of the 13 states had ratified it. The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, led a lobbying campaign to secure the necessary votes, while the Anti-Federalists fought against it due to its creation of a powerful central government. The ratification process took several years, with some states ratifying almost immediately and others requiring multiple conventions. The Constitution was finally ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it, and it came into effect in 1789.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | June 21, 1788 |
| Number of states required for ratification | 9 out of 13 |
| First state to ratify | Delaware |
| Date of first state ratification | December 7, 1787 |
| States that ratified before June 21, 1788 | Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina |
| States that ratified on June 21, 1788 | New Hampshire, Virginia |
| States that ratified after June 21, 1788 | Rhode Island |
| Date of final state ratification | May 29, 1790 |
| Date of Bill of Rights ratification | December 15, 1791 |
| Date of first federal elections | December 15, 1788 |
| Date of official implementation of the Constitution | March 4, 1789 |
| First President | George Washington |
| First Vice President | John Adams |
| Key figures in the ratification process | Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, George Washington, John Jay |
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What You'll Learn
Ratification by nine of the 13 states
The ratification of the U.S. Constitution required approval from nine of the 13 states. This was a crucial step in establishing a new federal government, and the process was not without its challenges. Initially, only six of the 13 states reported a pro-Constitution majority, with the Federalists facing strong opposition from the Anti-Federalists. The Anti-Federalists argued that the Constitution created a powerful central government that resembled the one they had recently overthrown, and they also criticised the lack of a bill of rights.
The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, lobbied vigorously for votes in favour of ratification. Along with John Jay, they produced 85 essays known as "The Federalist Papers," which explained and defended the proposed new government's functioning. These essays were published in newspapers across the nation, aiming to influence public opinion and gain support for ratification.
The ratification process itself was carefully designed by the delegates to the Convention. They recognised that ad hoc state conventions, formed specifically for the purpose of ratification, would be more inclined to approve the Constitution than existing state legislatures, which might be reluctant to relinquish their political powers. By convening state conventions, the delegates sought to present the ratification as an expression of the will of the people, giving the Constitution greater legitimacy.
The journey to achieving ratification by nine states was a long one. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. However, larger states like New York and Virginia took longer to persuade. Finally, on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, marking a significant milestone in the establishment of the new government of the United States of America.
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The Federalists' lobbying efforts
The Federalists, who believed that a strong central government was necessary, wanted the ratification of the US Constitution. However, they faced opposition from the Anti-Federalists, who fought hard against the Constitution as it created a powerful central government and lacked a bill of rights. The Federalists needed to convert at least three states to their cause.
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay led the Federalist lobbying efforts. They produced 85 essays known as "The Federalist Papers", which explained and defended how the proposed new government would function. The essays were published in newspapers nationwide under the pseudonym Publius. Hamilton wrote 51 of these essays, and Madison, known as the "father of the Constitution", wrote the rest with Jay's help.
The Federalists' efforts were also supported by George Washington, who believed that the country was on the brink of collapse and that a stronger central government was required. He wrote letters to political leaders urging them to support the Constitution and facilitated the ratification process in various states, including Virginia.
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State conventions were formed
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention, which took place from May to September 1787, decided that the new Constitution should be approved by a majority of the states and a majority of the people. They chose to bypass the state legislatures, believing that ad hoc state conventions would be more likely to ratify the Constitution, as they would not have to give up any political powers. These conventions, formed only for the purpose of ratifying the Constitution, were an expression of the will of the people, giving the Constitution legitimacy and superiority over state legislatures.
The ratification process was designed to be inclusive, allowing prominent men who were not state legislators to participate in the debates. This included governors, judges, delegates to Congress, and, in some states, religious ministers. The delegates to the convention were also confident that larger states, such as New York and Virginia, would be against any diminution of their state power. By holding state conventions, the delegates sought to address this issue and ensure that the majority of the people and the majority of the states approved the new Constitution.
The state conventions played a crucial role in the ratification of the Constitution, with each state having its own process and timeline for ratification. Some states, like Delaware, approved the new Constitution quickly, while others, like New York and Virginia, took longer. The length of time it took for all states to ratify the Constitution emphasised the deeply held differences of opinion over the new Constitution and the strong national government it established.
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Amendments were proposed
Amendments to the Constitution were proposed by the Anti-Federalists, who fought against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government that lacked a bill of rights. The Anti-Federalists proposed sending the Constitution to the states with amendments, including a bill of rights that was proposed by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.
The Anti-Federalists also wanted to indicate that the ratification process suggested by the Philadelphia Convention violated the amendment procedure provided by the Articles of Confederation and the congressional resolution of February 21, 1787, which called for the Convention only to amend the Articles. The delegates themselves had violated their instructions from their state legislatures, which also called for only amendments to the Articles, not a completely new constitution.
The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, wanted to forward it to the states with the approbation of Congress. James Madison, a Federalist, introduced 17 amendments to the Constitution, born from the Massachusetts Compromise, of which Congress adopted twelve 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 ratification campaign was a close call, and the tide turned in Massachusetts, where the "vote now, amend later" compromise helped secure victory in that state and eventually in the final holdouts. After ratification, Congress set dates for the first federal elections and the official implementation of the Constitution.
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Ratification by Virginia
The Virginia Ratifying Convention, also known as the Virginia Federal Convention, was a gathering of 168 delegates from Virginia who convened in 1788 to ratify or reject the United States Constitution. The convention took place from June 2 to June 27 in Richmond, Virginia, with Judge Edmund Pendleton, a Virginia delegate to the Constitutional Convention, serving as its president.
At the start of the convention, eight states had already approved the Constitution, and Virginia was poised to become the ninth state to do so. The ratification process in Virginia was marked by intense debates, with James Madison leading those in favour of ratification and Patrick Henry, a delegate to the First Continental Convention and Revolutionary wartime governor, leading the opposition. Governor Edmund Randolph, who had initially opposed the Constitution, chose the Virginia Ratifying Convention to shift his position and support its adoption, citing the inadequacies of the existing Confederation.
The Virginia ratification included a recommendation for a Bill of Rights, which Madison later led the First Congress to send to the states for ratification. The convention culminated in a final vote on June 25, with Virginia approving the Constitution by a margin of 89 to 79. This approval was celebrated by George Washington, who believed that Virginia was the ninth state to ratify, thus ensuring the Constitution's enactment. However, it was later clarified that New Hampshire had approved the Constitution just before Virginia.
The ratification of the Constitution by Virginia marked a significant step towards establishing a stronger national government and addressing the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation. It reflected a compromise between those seeking a consolidated government and those concerned about preserving state liberties. The process highlighted the passionate debates and complex dynamics surrounding the formation of the United States' governing framework.
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Frequently asked questions
Nine of the 13 states needed to ratify the Constitution to establish a new federal government.
The Constitutional Convention was assembled to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The convention created a model of government that relied on a series of checks and balances by dividing federal authority between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Supporters of the Constitution, known as Federalists, argued that the new government supported the principles of separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism. They also believed that a strong central government was necessary to face the nation's challenges.
Opponents of the Constitution, known as Anti-Federalists, worried that the proposed constitution represented a betrayal of the principles of the American Revolution. They also believed that the Constitution created a powerful central government and lacked a bill of rights.
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