Jonah Patel
The ratification of the Constitution was a long and arduous process, with debates raging across the 13 colonies. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The remaining states to ratify the Constitution were Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and New Hampshire, which became the ninth state to do so on June 21, 1788.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First colony to ratify the Constitution | Delaware |
| Date of ratification | 7 December 1787 |
| Other colonies to ratify the Constitution | Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire |
| Total number of colonies to ratify the Constitution | 9 out of 13 |
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What You'll Learn
- Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution
- Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut followed
- Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina also ratified the Constitution
- New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution
- The Federalist Papers were written in support of the Constitution
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution
The Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays written by Hamilton, Madison and Jay, were published in newspapers nationwide to explain and defend how the proposed new government would function. The essays were part of a lobbying effort for votes in favour of ratifying the Constitution.
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Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut followed
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, on 7 December 1787. This was followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
The ratification of the Constitution was a long and arduous process. Until the new Constitution was ratified, the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation. This document was tailored to a newly formed nation made of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries. However, it soon became clear to some of America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralised government.
Two parties soon developed, one in opposition and one in support of the Constitution, and the Constitution was debated, criticised, and expounded clause by clause. Alexander Hamilton of New York led the call for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation's governing document. Hamilton, Madison, and Jay wrote a series of commentaries, now known as the Federalist Papers, in support of the new instrument of government.
In some states, ratification was effected only after a bitter struggle in the State convention itself. By June 1788, only eight of 13 colonies had ratified a future United States Constitution. The Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it on 21 June 1788. The Constitution was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and, finally, New Hampshire.
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Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina also ratified the Constitution
Delaware was the first colony to ratify the Constitution, on 7 December 1787. This was followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. However, Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina also ratified the Constitution. The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process. Until the new Constitution was ratified, the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation. This document was tailored to a newly formed nation made of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries. It soon became clear to some of America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralised government.
Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina were among the 13 colonies that ratified the Constitution. The debates over ratification raged in taverns, halls, and homes throughout the eastern seaboard in June 1788. The Constitution was debated, criticised, and expounded clause by clause, and in some states, ratification was only effected after a bitter struggle in the State convention itself.
Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina played a crucial role in the ratification process. The terms of the Massachusetts Compromise reached in February 1788 stipulated that amendments would be immediately proposed to protect rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. These amendments became the Bill of Rights. The ratification of the Constitution by Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina, along with the other colonies, helped to establish the official framework of the government of the United States of America.
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New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, on 7 December 1787. This was followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, on 21 June 1788, after Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina. The ratification of the Constitution was a long and arduous process, with debates raging in taverns, halls, and homes throughout the eastern seaboard. The country was governed by the Articles of Confederation until the new Constitution was ratified. This document was tailored to a newly formed nation of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries. However, it became clear to some of America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralised government.
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The Federalist Papers were written in support of the Constitution
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787. The Federalist Papers were written in support of the Constitution. They are a collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay under the pseudonym "Publius". The first 77 of these essays were published serially in the Independent Journal, the New York Packet, and The Daily Advertiser between October 1787 and April 1788. The essays were written between October 1787 and August 1788 and were intended to build public and political support for the newly constructed Constitution. The Federalist Papers were written specifically in support of ratification in New York, although it is questionable whether they succeeded in this mission. The essays were not reliably reprinted outside of New York, and by the time the series was well underway, a number of important states had already ratified the Constitution.
The Federalist Papers were written to explain and defend how the proposed new government would function. They advocated for a strong federal government. The essays were published in newspapers nationwide and addressed to "The People of the State of New York". The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process. Until the new Constitution was ratified, the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation. This 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 centralized government.
The Constitution was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and, finally, New Hampshire. 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.
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Frequently asked questions
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, on December 7, 1787.
By June 1788, eight of 13 colonies had ratified the Constitution.
New Hampshire was the ninth colony to ratify the Constitution, on June 21, 1788.
The Constitution was also ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
Before the Constitution, the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation.
