Omar Bennett
The ratification of the US Constitution was a long and complex process that occurred between 1787 and 1789. The Constitution was drafted by delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, which was convened to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, which gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but lacked enforcement powers and the ability to regulate commerce or print money. The delegates to the convention, including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, created a new model of government with three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—and a stronger central government. The draft Constitution was then sent to the states for debate and ratification votes, with nine of the thirteen states needed to ratify it. The process was contentious, with Federalists, who supported a strong central government, and Anti-Federalists, who opposed it, engaging in a fierce battle. The Federalists, including Washington, Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay, promoted the Constitution through essays and lobbying efforts, and it was eventually ratified by the required nine states between December 1787 and June 1788, with all 13 states ratifying it by May 1790. The Constitution established the framework for the government of the United States, with a federal system and a stronger central government with more specific powers, including in foreign relations.
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What You'll Learn
George Washington's leadership
Washington rarely participated in the debates, but his support for the Constitution was well known and carried weight. His leadership during the convention prompted delegates to envision an executive with wide-ranging powers, assuming that Washington would become the nation's first president.
After the convention, Washington actively promoted the ratification of the Constitution across the states. He sent copies of the document to influential figures, including Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette, seeking their support. He also corresponded with political leaders across the nation, urging them to back the Constitution.
Washington's private letters reveal his strong support for the Constitution, despite his limited public statements. He praised the amendment provision, acknowledging its imperfections but recognising it as "the best constitution that can be obtained". Federalists used Washington's image and support to promote ratification, arguing for the need for a stronger central government.
Washington's leadership and influence were crucial in achieving consensus among the delegates and fostering support for the Constitution across the states. His role in the ratification process, along with his subsequent election as the first president, cemented his place in the nation's constitutional legacy.
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Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers were a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, published in New York newspapers between October 1787 and August 1788. The essays were written and published to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution. The Federalist Papers explained and defended how the proposed new government would function.
The Federalist Papers were written in response to the "Anti-Federalist Papers", which were critical of the new Constitution. The authors of The Federalist Papers, who supported the ratification of the Constitution, were known as Federalists. They argued for the need for a stronger central government and addressed people's fears about a federal government.
The Federalist Papers explained in detail the particular provisions of the Constitution. They are often used today to interpret the intentions of those who drafted the Constitution, as Hamilton and Madison were both members of the Constitutional Convention.
The Federalist Papers were published primarily in two New York state newspapers: The New York Packet and The Independent Journal. They were also reprinted in other newspapers in New York state and in several other states. A bound edition was published in 1788.
While The Federalist Papers did not play a significant role in New York's decision to ratify the Constitution, they remain important because they offer insight into the intentions of those who debated the elements of the Constitution.
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Compromise and negotiation
The road to the ratification of the US Constitution was a long and complex process, requiring compromise and negotiation at every turn. The first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, had been ratified in 1777, but it soon became clear that it was inadequate. The Articles gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, and it could not regulate commerce, print money, or resolve disputes between states.
By the mid-1780s, the young nation was in crisis. The Revolutionary War had ended a few years earlier, and the country was struggling with a fiscal crisis and internal disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade. The federal government was weak, and the states were more powerful than the central government. It was clear that a new constitution was needed to strengthen the central government and prevent the country from collapsing.
George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and others led the push for a new constitution. They believed that a stronger central government was necessary to address the nation's challenges. Washington, as president of the Constitutional Convention, played a crucial role in keeping delegates open to compromise and ensuring that they worked towards a stronger national government.
The delegates to the Constitutional Convention represented a wide range of interests and views, and they crafted compromises to accommodate these differences. One of the most significant compromises was the Connecticut Plan, also known as the Great Compromise, proposed by Connecticut delegate Roger Sherman. This plan ensured that all states would have equal representation in the Senate, while representation in the House of Representatives would be proportional to each state's population. This compromise addressed the concerns of smaller states, which feared being overshadowed by larger states, and it helped to break the deadlock in the convention.
Another key compromise was the "vote now, amend later" strategy employed in Massachusetts. This compromise helped secure ratification in that state and, eventually, in the final holdouts, as it allowed for the immediate proposal of amendments, which became the Bill of Rights.
The Federalists, who supported ratification, also engaged in a campaign of negotiation and persuasion. Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay authored the "Federalist Papers," a series of essays explaining and defending the proposed new government. They sent copies of the Constitution to influential figures, such as Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette, seeking their support. Washington himself wrote letters to political leaders across the nation, urging them to support ratification.
The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, opposed the Constitution because it created a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had overthrown during the Revolution, and because it lacked a bill of rights. This opposition led to a contentious ratification process, with Federalists needing to convert at least three states to secure victory.
In the end, the Constitution was ratified by the required nine out of thirteen states between December 7, 1787, and June 21, 1788, with New Hampshire being the final state needed to ratify. The new government was set to begin on March 4, 1789, with George Washington as the first President. The Constitution has since served as the basis of the United States Government, though it continued to evolve in the years following its ratification.
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State ratification votes
The US Constitution was sent to the states for debate and ratification votes in 1787. The procedure for ratification was critical, as previous attempts to amend the Articles of Confederation had failed due to the requirement for the unanimous approval of state legislatures. The drafters of the Constitution bypassed this requirement by calling for special ratifying conventions in each state.
The Federalists, who believed in a strong central government, led the campaign for votes in favour of ratification. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay produced "The Federalist Papers", a series of essays explaining and defending the proposed new government. George Washington, who had presided over the Constitutional Convention, also played an active role in the ratification process, writing letters to political leaders urging them to support the Constitution.
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The ratification process was contentious, with some states voicing opposition to the Constitution due to concerns about the lack of protection for certain rights. The tide turned in Massachusetts, where a "vote now, amend later" compromise helped secure victory, eventually leading to ratification by the required nine out of thirteen states. New Hampshire became the ninth and final state needed to ratify the Constitution on June 21, 1788.
While the Constitution came into effect in 1789 with the necessary number of state ratifications, it was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document. The Constitution was also amended several times in its early years, with the Bill of Rights being ratified on December 15, 1791.
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A stronger central government
The ratification of the US Constitution was driven by the need for a stronger central government to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. The Articles, America's first constitution, gave the Confederation Congress the authority to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers and could not regulate commerce, levy taxes, control money printing, settle interstate disputes, or effectively conduct foreign policy. These limitations threatened to tear the young nation apart.
The Constitutional Convention, led by George Washington, convened in Philadelphia in May 1787 to address these issues. Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and other Federalists advocated for a stronger central government, clashing with Anti-Federalists who opposed a powerful central authority reminiscent of the one they had overthrown. The Federalists argued that a robust federal government was necessary to confront the nation's challenges.
The Convention delegates crafted a new Constitution, establishing a federal government with more explicit powers, including the ability to conduct foreign relations. The new government structure consisted of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The executive branch, led by the President, was tasked with managing foreign affairs, while the legislative branch retained the power to ratify treaties. The judicial branch was responsible for interpreting the law and ensuring justice.
The Constitution provided the federal government with the power to tax, which was absent under the Articles of Confederation. This power was crucial for generating revenue and strengthening the nation's economic foundation. Additionally, the Constitution addressed interstate disputes and representation concerns by proposing equal representation for all states in the Senate and proportional representation based on population in the House of Representatives, known as the "Great Compromise" or the "Connecticut Plan."
The ratification process itself also reflected the desire for a stronger central government. Recognizing that state legislatures might be reluctant to cede power, the founders bypassed them and called for special ratifying conventions in each state. This approach facilitated the establishment of a new federal government with the ratification of the Constitution by nine out of the thirteen states.
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Frequently asked questions
The main reason for the ratification of the Constitution was to strengthen the federal government of the United States. The Articles of Confederation, which was the country's first constitution, 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.
George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay were the key people involved in the ratification process. Washington, as president of the Constitutional Convention, ensured that delegates remained open to compromise. Hamilton, Madison, and Jay authored the "Federalist Papers" to promote ratification and explain how the proposed new government would function.
The Federalist Papers were a series of 85 essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay that explained and defended the proposed new government under the Constitution. The essays were published in newspapers nationwide and played a crucial role in lobbying for votes in favor of ratifying the Constitution.
Ratification by 9 out of the 13 existing states was required to enact the new government under the Constitution. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, making it the official framework for the government of the United States.
The Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia from May to September 1787 to address the problems of the weak central government under the Articles of Confederation. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, creating a powerful central government with three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The Constitution was then sent to the states for debate and ratification votes.
