Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. 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 long and arduous, and the Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document. The Constitution was subsequently amended several times, with the Bill of Rights being ratified on December 15, 1791.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First state to ratify the Constitution | Delaware |
| Date of first ratification | 7 December 1787 |
| Date the Constitution became the official framework of the US government | 21 June 1788 |
| Number of states required to ratify the Constitution | 9 of 13 |
| Date the Constitution was ratified by all 13 states | 29 May 1790 |
| Date the Bill of Rights was ratified | 15 December 1791 |
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What You'll Learn
- The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787
- The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790
- The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791
- The Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States on June 21, 1788
- The Massachusetts Compromise
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787
The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process. The country was governed by the Articles of Confederation until the new Constitution was ratified. The document was tailored to a newly formed nation made of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries. It became clear to some of America’s leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralised government. New York’s Alexander Hamilton thus led the call for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation’s governing document.
On June 21, 1788, the Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The Constitution was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and, finally, New Hampshire. After ratification, Congress set dates for the first federal elections and the official implementation of the Constitution.
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The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790
The Constitution was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and, finally, New Hampshire, which became the ninth state to ratify it on June 21, 1788. After ratification, Congress set dates for the first federal elections and the official implementation of the Constitution. Elections were set to take place from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, and the new government was set to begin on March 4, 1789. In the nation’s first presidential election, George Washington was elected President and John Adams was elected Vice President.
Some states voiced opposition to the Constitution on the grounds that it did not provide protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. However, the terms of the Massachusetts Compromise reached in February 1788 stipulated that amendments to that effect—what became the Bill of Rights—would be immediately proposed. Madison introduced 17 amendments to the Constitution, of which Congress adopted 12 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.
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The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791
The Constitution was drafted in 1787 and sent to the states for debate and ratification votes. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. By June 21, 1788, the required nine of 13 states had ratified the Constitution, making it the official framework of the government of the United States of America.
However, some states voiced opposition to the Constitution on the grounds that it did not adequately protect certain rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. To address these concerns, the Massachusetts Compromise was reached in February 1788, which stipulated that amendments—what became known as the Bill of Rights—would be immediately proposed.
Madison introduced 17 amendments to the Constitution, of which Congress adopted 12 on September 25, 1789, to send to the states for ratification. Ten of those amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
The Bill of Rights became an integral part of the Constitution, guaranteeing the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms for all Americans.
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The Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States on June 21, 1788
Some states voiced opposition to the Constitution on the grounds that it did not provide protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. However, the terms of the Massachusetts Compromise reached in February 1788 stipulated that amendments to that effect—what became the Bill of Rights—would be immediately proposed. The Constitution was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and, finally, New Hampshire. After ratification, Congress set dates for the first federal elections and the official implementation of the Constitution. Elections were set to take place from Monday, December 15, 1788, to Saturday, January 10, 1789, and the new government was set to begin on March 4, 1789. In the nation’s first presidential election, George Washington was elected President and John Adams was elected Vice President.
The Constitution, however, was still evolving. Madison introduced 17 amendments to the Constitution born from the Massachusetts Compromise, of which Congress adopted 12 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 U.S. did not begin to look and function remotely like it does today until several years later. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document, and the Bill of Rights was not ratified to become part of the Constitution until the end of the following year.
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The Massachusetts Compromise
The journey to ratifying the Constitution was a long and arduous process. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787. Between December 7, 1787, and June 21, 1788, nine of the 13 states had ratified the Constitution, making it the official framework for the government of the United States of America. The Constitution was not ratified by all 13 states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
Overall, the ratification of the Constitution was a complex and lengthy process that involved debate and compromise among the states. The Massachusetts Compromise played a crucial role in addressing key concerns and ultimately led to the ratification of the Constitution by several states.
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Frequently asked questions
Delaware, on December 7, 1787.
On June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it.
9 of the 13 states.
On December 15, 1791.
May 29, 1790.
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