Jonah Patel
The US Constitution is the oldest written constitution in operation in the world. It was officially ratified and approved on 21 June 1788, ten months after delegates finalised the document at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The Constitution was adopted by a convention of the States on 17 September 1787 and was subsequently ratified by several States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | 21 June 1788 |
| Date of adoption | 17 September 1787 |
| Date of approval by delegates | 17 September 1787 |
| Date of approval by Congress | 21 June 1788 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was ratified on June 21st, 1788
On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the Constitution, with George Reed signing for the absent John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The delegates were tasked with revising the existing government, but they ended up creating a completely new one. Representing wildly different interests and views, they crafted compromises. It stands today as one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world.
Under Article VII, it was agreed that the document would not be binding until its ratification by nine of the 13 existing states. Hamilton and James Madison led the lobbying efforts for votes in favour of ratifying the Constitution. With assistance from John Jay, they produced the 85 essays known as "The Federalist Papers" that explained and defended how the proposed new government would function.
Even after the Constitution's ratification, 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.
Who Was the Ninth State to Ratify the Constitution?
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The US Constitution was adopted on September 17th, 1787
The US Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787, when 38 delegates signed the document. One delegate, George Reed, signed on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, who was absent, bringing the total number of signatures to 39. The delegates were tasked with revising the existing government, but instead, they created a powerful central government. This was a compromise between their wildly differing interests and views.
The Constitution was not ratified until June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. Until that point, the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation. The Articles were tailored to a newly formed nation made 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.
The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document. Ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
The Constitution's Ratification: 1789's Defining Moment
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The US Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation
On May 25th, 1787, delegates from the 13 colonies met in the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Alexander Hamilton brought them together to go over the problematic Articles of Confederation that directed current government procedure and powers. The delegates approved the final document on September 17th, 1787. However, the document couldn’t go forward for ratification by the states until Congress had agreed to direct it to the state legislatures. The concern was that the delegates at the Constitutional Convention had acted beyond their powers.
The Constitution was adopted by a convention of the States on September 17, 1787, and was subsequently ratified by several States, on the following dates: Delaware, December 7, 1787; Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787; New Jersey, December 18, 1787; Georgia, January 2, 1788; Connecticut, January 9, 1788; Massachusetts, February 6, 1788; Maryland, April 28, 1788; South Carolina, May 23, 1788; New Hampshire, June 21, 1788. Ratification was completed on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it.
The US Constitution is now the oldest written constitution in operation in the world.
The Constitution's Journey: Voting and Ratification
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The US Constitution was ratified by 13 states
The creation of the US Constitution was a pivotal moment in creating the federal system of the United States. It came a decade after independence, following concerns over limitations in the current system. The Articles of Confederation, which had been the first attempt at creating a constitution for the United States after the revolutionary war, were deemed insufficient and unsuitable for the newly independent nation.
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 approved the final document on September 17, 1787. However, the document couldn’t go forward for ratification by the states until Congress had agreed to direct it to the state legislatures. The concern was that the delegates at the Constitutional Convention had acted beyond their powers.
The Constitution of the United States was officially ratified and therefore approved on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it. This was the date when the ninth signature necessary for approval was received. Until the new Constitution was ratified, the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation.
The Bill of Rights: Ensuring Happiness After the Constitution
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The US Constitution is the oldest written constitution in operation in the world
The Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation, which had been the first attempt at creating a constitution for the United States after the revolutionary war. The Articles of Confederation were tailored to a newly formed nation made of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries. However, it quickly became clear to some of America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralised government.
The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process. The creation of the US Constitution was a pivotal moment in creating the federal system of the United States. It came a decade after independence, following concerns over limitations in the current system. The drafting of the Constitution in Philadelphia wasn’t enough. It needed to be ratified for Congress to adopt it.
The Constitution: Ratification, A Necessary Evolution?
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was ratified on June 21st, 1788.
The US Constitution was adopted on September 17th, 1787.
It took ten months for the US Constitution to be ratified, following its finalisation at the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
The Articles of Confederation.
