Simone Lawson
The U.S. Constitution was signed by 38 or 39 of the 41 or 55 delegates on September 17, 1787. However, it required ratification from nine of the thirteen states to take effect. The order of ratification was as follows: Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. Then, Massachusetts on February 6, 1788, followed by Maryland, South Carolina, and, finally, New Hampshire on June 21, 1788, which made the Constitution official. Subsequently, Virginia and New York ratified the Constitution on June 25 and July 26, 1788, respectively. The remaining states ratified the Constitution by May 29, 1790, with Rhode Island being the last to approve.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing of the final draft of the Constitution | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of delegates who signed the final draft | 39 out of 55 |
| Number of states required to ratify | 9 out of 13 |
| First state to ratify | Delaware |
| Date of Delaware's ratification | December 7, 1787 |
| States that quickly followed | Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut |
| Date of ratification by New Hampshire | June 21, 1788 |
| Date of ratification by Virginia | June 25, 1788 |
| Date of ratification by New York | July 26, 1788 |
| Date of the first federal elections | December 15, 1788 |
| Date of the official implementation of the Constitution | March 4, 1789 |
| First President of the United States | George Washington |
| First Vice President of the United States | John Adams |
| Date of ratification by all states | May 29, 1790 |
| Date of ratification of the Bill of Rights | December 15, 1791 |
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What You'll Learn
The role of George Washington
The Constitution was ratified by the states in the following order: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and New Hampshire. The first state to ratify the Constitution, Delaware, did so on December 7, 1787. The final state needed for ratification out of the original 13 colonies, New Hampshire, ratified the Constitution on June 21, 1788.
George Washington played a significant role in the ratification of the Constitution. As a nationalist, Washington was convinced of the need for a strong national government and agreed to attend the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. He was unanimously elected as the president of the convention, where he oversaw the debates and worked to forge consensus among the delegates.
Washington rarely participated in the debates himself, but his support for the Constitution was well known and influential. He believed that the Articles of Confederation had left the country with a weak government, and that the Constitution would provide a stronger central government with three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. He also endorsed the idea of a national court system.
Washington actively promoted the ratification of the Constitution by sending copies of the document to influential figures, including Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette, as well as writing letters to political leaders across the nation. He also supported the addition of a bill of rights to the Constitution, which helped persuade delegates in many states to support ratification.
Washington's commanding presence and influence were crucial in achieving the ratification of the Constitution. His role as president of the convention and his support for the document carried weight, and his image was used by Federalists to promote ratification. Washington's election as the first president of the United States under the new Constitution further demonstrated his commitment to a strong national government.
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Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists had opposing views on the ratification of the US Constitution. The Federalists, including Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, believed in a stronger central government. They argued that without the power to maintain and command an army and navy, impose taxes, and force states to comply with laws passed by Congress, the young nation would not survive. They were instrumental in shaping the new US Constitution, which promised a stronger central government with three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The legislative branch included expanded powers of Congress, such as the power to tax, and the judicial branch included a national court system.
The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, opposed the ratification of the US Constitution, believing that it strengthened the national government at the expense of the states and the people. They argued that the Constitution did not provide adequate protection for individual liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press, and that it gave too much power to the office of the president. They also disapproved of the creation of a new federal judicial system. However, the Anti-Federalists never organized efficiently across all thirteen states, so they had to fight the ratification at every state convention.
The greatest source of dissatisfaction with the Constitution for the Anti-Federalists was that it did not guarantee the protection of individual liberties. Some states had granted their residents rights such as jury trials, weapon possession for protection, and religious tolerance, but the Constitution did not contain reassurances that the federal government would do the same. This led many Anti-Federalists to call for a bill of rights and to refuse to ratify the document without one.
The Federalists, however, were able to persuade delegates in many states to support ratification by promising that a bill of rights would be drafted for the Constitution. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, and the Constitution became the official framework of the US government. 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 ratified on December 15, 1791.
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The Articles of Confederation
As a result, there were calls for a Constitutional Convention to re-evaluate the nation's governing document. The Convention was held in Philadelphia from May to September 1787, with George Washington as its president. The initial purpose of the Convention was to amend the Articles of Confederation. However, the delegates ultimately proposed and created a completely new form of government, resulting in the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.
The Constitution aimed to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation by establishing a stronger central government, including a Congress with the power to tax and three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The legislative branch included expanded powers for Congress, and the Constitution also promised a national court system. The executive branch would be headed by a President, who would act as the nation's chief executive.
The ratification process for the Constitution sparked an intense national debate between Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. Federalists, led by figures such as Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, argued that the Constitution provided a necessary framework for a strong and effective central government capable of unifying the nation and protecting against foreign threats. They believed that the checks and balances built into the Constitution would prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, feared that the Constitution concentrated too much power in the federal government at the expense of states' rights. They also criticized the absence of a Bill of Rights, arguing that the Constitution did not adequately protect individual liberties. The debate played out in newspapers, pamphlets, and public meetings across the country.
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The Bill of Rights
The ratification of the U.S. Constitution was a long and arduous process. The final draft of the Constitution was signed by 39 of the 55 delegates on September 17, 1787. It then had to be ratified by at least nine of the 13 states to take effect. The ratification process sparked an intense national debate between Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and Anti-Federalists, who opposed it.
The Anti-Federalists' greatest source of dissatisfaction with the Constitution was that it did not guarantee the protection of individual liberties. State governments had given jury trials to residents charged with violating the law and allowed their residents to possess weapons for their protection. Some had practiced religious tolerance as well. The Constitution, however, did not contain reassurances that the federal government would do the same. Although it provided for habeas corpus and prohibited both a religious test for holding office and granting noble titles, some citizens feared the loss of their traditional rights and the violation of their liberties. This led many of the Constitution’s opponents to call for a bill of rights and to refuse to ratify the document without one.
The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, argued that the Constitution provided a necessary framework for a strong, effective central government capable of unifying the nation, protecting against foreign threats, and managing domestic affairs. They believed the checks and balances built into the Constitution would prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.
The promise that a bill of rights would be drafted for the Constitution persuaded delegates in many states to support ratification. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, doing so unanimously on December 7, 1787. Pennsylvania and New Jersey quickly followed, with relatively little opposition. By June 1788, eight states had ratified the Constitution. New Hampshire's decision to ratify on June 21, 1788, made it the ninth state, ensuring that the Constitution would go into effect.
Ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. These amendments guaranteed fundamental freedoms such as speech, religion, and the press, as well as protections against government overreach.
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Ratification process and requirements
The ratification process for the US Constitution was a long and arduous journey. The final draft of the Constitution was signed by 39 of the 55 delegates on September 17, 1787. However, for it to become the law of the land, it had to be ratified by the states. According to Article VII, the final article of the Constitution, the document had to be ratified by nine of the thirteen states.
The ratification process sparked a national debate between two factions: the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, argued that the Constitution provided a necessary framework for a strong, effective central government capable of unifying the nation, protecting against foreign threats, and managing domestic affairs. They believed the checks and balances built into the Constitution would prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful. The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, feared that the Constitution concentrated too much power in the federal government at the expense of states' rights and individual liberties. They criticised the absence of a Bill of Rights, which they believed was necessary to protect freedoms such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
Despite the opposition, the Federalists successfully lobbied for votes in favour of ratification. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution unanimously on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The ratification process varied across the states, with some facing intense debates and narrow margins, while others had relatively little opposition. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, ensuring that it would go into effect. The remaining states, including Virginia and New York, also eventually ratified the Constitution, with Rhode Island being the last state to approve the document on May 29, 1790.
The promise to draft a Bill of Rights was a significant outcome of the ratification debates and helped sway skeptics in several states. James Madison took the lead in drafting the amendments, and ten amendments, collectively known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791, guaranteeing fundamental freedoms and protections against government overreach.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution required ratification by nine of the thirteen states to take effect.
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution on June 21, 1788, ensuring its adoption.
The Constitution was ratified by all states on May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document.
