Jonah Patel
The US Constitution was ratified by nine states, with Delaware being the first to ratify it on December 7, 1787, and New Hampshire being the ninth state to ratify it on June 21, 1788. The new Constitution went into effect on March 4, 1789, with Rhode Island being the last state to ratify it in May 1790. The ratification process was not without opposition, with a group of influential colonial Patriots known as the Anti-Federalists publicly opposing the new Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First state to ratify the Constitution | Delaware |
| Date of Delaware's ratification | 7 December 1787 |
| Ninth state to ratify the Constitution | New Hampshire |
| Date of New Hampshire's ratification | 21 June 1788 |
| Date the new Constitution went into effect | 4 March 1789 |
| Date the Articles went into effect | 1 March 1781 |
| Number of states required to ratify the Constitution for it to become law | At least nine |
| States that ratified the Constitution after New Hampshire | Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island |
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What You'll Learn
- Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution
- New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution
- The Anti-Federalists publicly opposed the new Constitution
- Virginia and New York ratified the Constitution shortly after New Hampshire
- Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution
The ratification process was not without opposition. A group of influential colonial Patriots known as the Anti-Federalists, led by Patrick Henry of Virginia, publicly opposed the new Constitution in town hall meetings. Despite this opposition, the Constitution was eventually ratified by all thirteen states, with Rhode Island being the last to do so in May 1790.
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New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution
The Delaware legislature was the first to ratify the Constitution, with a vote of 30-0 on 7 December 1787. This was followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina. Virginia and New York ratified the Constitution shortly after New Hampshire, and North Carolina followed in November 1789. Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution, not joining the Union until May 1790.
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The Anti-Federalists publicly opposed the new Constitution
The Anti-Federalists held town hall meetings and published pamphlets to spread their message. They argued that the Constitution should be amended to include a bill of rights that would protect individual freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. They also wanted to ensure that states' rights were protected and that the federal government did not become too powerful.
The Anti-Federalists' opposition to the Constitution was not without merit. The Constitution was indeed created by a small group of elites, and it did give the federal government more power than it had under the Articles of Confederation. However, their efforts to block ratification were ultimately unsuccessful.
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware, which did so by a vote of 30-0 on December 7, 1787. This was followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina. The ninth state to ratify was New Hampshire, on June 21, 1788, which made the adoption of the Constitution official. Virginia, New York, and North Carolina ratified it shortly after, and Rhode Island was the last state to ratify, not joining the Union until May 1790.
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Virginia and New York ratified the Constitution shortly after New Hampshire
The Delaware legislature became the first to ratify the Constitution by a vote of 30-0 on December 7, 1787. The ninth state, New Hampshire, ratified it on June 21, 1788, and the new Constitution went into effect on March 4, 1789. Virginia and New York ratified the Constitution shortly after New Hampshire. Led by Patrick Henry of Virginia, a group of influential colonial Patriots known as the Anti-Federalists publicly opposed the new Constitution in town hall meetings. However, Virginia eventually ratified the Constitution, followed by New York. North Carolina ratified the Constitution in November 1789, and Rhode Island was the last to ratify, not joining the Union until May 1790.
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Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution
The US Constitution was ratified by nine states, with Delaware being the first to ratify it on December 7, 1787, and New Hampshire being the ninth state to ratify it on June 21, 1788. The new Constitution went into effect on March 4, 1789. Virginia and New York ratified it shortly after New Hampshire, followed by North Carolina in November 1789. Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution, not joining the Union until May 1790.
The Constitution was sent to the states for ratification, and at least nine states were required to ratify it for it to become law. This process was not without opposition, as a group of influential colonial Patriots known as the Anti-Federalists, led by Patrick Henry of Virginia, publicly opposed the new Constitution in town hall meetings. Despite this opposition, the Constitution was eventually ratified by the required number of states, with Rhode Island being the last to do so.
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Frequently asked questions
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787.
At least nine states needed to ratify the Constitution for it to become law.
Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution, not joining the Union until May 1790.
