Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve the document. The Constitution was drafted in 1787 and submitted to the 13 states for ratification. The process of ratification was long and arduous, with debates taking place across the country. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved it, and the Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | 21 June 1788 |
| Place of ratification | New Hampshire |
| Number of states ratifying the Constitution | 9 out of 13 |
| Date of proposal | 1787 |
| States that voted in favor of ratification | Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Georgia, New York |
| States expressing concerns | Virginia, New York, Massachusetts |
| Date the Bill of Rights was ratified | 15 December 1791 |
| Date all states ratified the Constitution | 29 May 1790 |
| Date the capital was set | 16 July 1790 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788
The ratification of the Constitution came about following a period of debate and deliberation among the states. The Constitutional Convention, held in Philadelphia in 1787, proposed a new governing document, sparking discussions across the nation. The Federalists supported the Constitution, while the Anti-Federalists opposed it, arguing for the protection of individual rights and states' rights. The draft constitution was submitted to the states for ratification, with each state weighing in through their elected conventions.
New York, a hotbed of anti-Federalism, played a pivotal role in the ratification process. The state's delegates, including Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, published a series of commentaries known as The Federalist Papers, advocating for ratification. They struck a deal to address concerns over individual rights, agreeing to introduce amendments to protect these rights under the new Constitution. This compromise was crucial in gaining support for ratification.
On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, reaching the threshold required for ratification. With this, the Constitution became the official governing document of the United States. This event marked a shift from the previous governing structure, the Articles of Confederation, which had granted limited powers to a central government. The ratification of the Constitution established a stronger, more centralized government, reflecting the evolving needs of the nation.
The process of ratification and the early years of the Constitution's implementation were marked by compromise and negotiation. The inclusion of the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted three-fifths of slaves as part of the population for representation purposes, was a concession to southern interests. The Constitution's ratification laid the groundwork for the development of the United States, but it would still be several years before the nation began to function as it does today.
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Ratification by the 13 colonies took over three years
The United States Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve the document. However, the journey to ratification was a long and arduous process that took more than three years. The Constitution was drafted in 1787 and, following the Constitutional Convention, a great debate took place throughout America over the proposed framework. The debate centred around support for and opposition to the Constitution, with Federalists and Anti-Federalists emerging as the two main factions.
The Anti-Federalists, particularly in New York, argued that the new and more powerful national government, operating under a constitution that did not include a Bill of Rights, would endanger the rights of individual citizens and the states. On the other hand, the Federalists believed that individual rights were already protected by state and common law. To address these concerns, the Federalists agreed to introduce a series of amendments protecting individual rights at the first Congress convened under the new Constitution.
Despite the opposition, the Federalists gained support, and by the end of 1787, three state legislatures had voted in favour of ratification: Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. As 1788 began, Connecticut and Georgia followed suit, and on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire's approval pushed the number of ratifying states to nine, making the Constitution the official framework of the government of the United States of America.
However, it was not until May 29, 1790, that all 13 colonies had ratified the Constitution, with Rhode Island being the last state to approve the document. The Bill of Rights, consisting of the first ten amendments, was ratified on December 15, 1791, fulfilling the promise made to the critics during the debates of 1788.
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The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791
The United States Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve the document. However, it is important to note that the process of ratification was a long and arduous journey, with intense debates occurring across the thirteen states. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island, the final state, approved the document.
Even after the Constitution was ratified, the US did not function as it does today until several years later. One key aspect of this evolution was the addition of the Bill of Rights, which consists of the first ten amendments to the Constitution. These amendments were introduced to protect individual rights and freedoms and were ratified on December 15, 1791, becoming an integral part of the nation's framework.
The Bill of Rights was a crucial development in the early years of the US Constitution, addressing concerns raised by critics during the debates of 1788. The first of these ten amendments guarantees essential freedoms, including freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and the right to petition. It also includes the Free Exercise Clause, which protects an individual's right to hold and practice their religious beliefs, and the Establishment Clause, which prevents the federal government from establishing an official religion.
The remaining nine amendments in the Bill of Rights further protect the rights of citizens and states. For example, the second amendment guarantees the right to keep and bear arms, while the fourth amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. The ninth and tenth amendments emphasize that rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution are reserved for the people or the states, respectively. These amendments were designed to address the concerns of Anti-Federalists, who feared that a strong central government could infringe on individual liberties and state sovereignty.
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The ratification debate in state conventions
The US Constitution was ratified in 1787 and 1788, following the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Each state held its own ratifying convention to approve or disapprove of the new constitution. The Federalists and Anti-Federalists were the respective supporters and opponents of the Constitution.
The ratification debates in state conventions were intense and contentious, taking place in homes, taverns, and on the printed page. The Federalists, or supporters of the Constitution, faced opposition from the Anti-Federalists in powerful states like Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia. The Anti-Federalists demanded amendments to be made before accepting the new government, including the addition of a Bill of Rights to protect the liberties of the people.
In Massachusetts, the Federalists promised to consider amendments after the Constitution was ratified, and on February 6, 1788, Massachusetts became the sixth state to approve the Constitution by a narrow vote. The Virginia Convention witnessed a clash of political giants, with Federalists Madison and John Marshall facing off against George Mason and Patrick Henry. Henry warned that the states would lose their sovereignty and that a powerful national government would violate natural rights and civil liberties. Madison countered with a line-by-line defence of the Constitution's reasoning. On June 25, 1788, Virginia voted to ratify the Constitution.
The New York Convention was dominated by the Anti-Federalists, with Patrick Henry arguing that the president would lead a standing army against the people. The Federalists, however, urged their allies in Virginia and New Hampshire to send word of their ratification outcomes to influence the New York debate. On July 26, 1788, New York conditionally ratified the Constitution, calling for another convention to propose a Bill of Rights. Rhode Island and North Carolina were the last two states to ratify the Constitution, doing so after Congress voted to send amendments for state approval in 1789.
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The Federalists and Anti-Federalists
The US Constitution was ratified in 1788, on June 21, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it. However, the road to ratification was long and arduous, with much debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
The Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution, believing that a stronger national government was necessary after the failed Articles of Confederation. They thought that dividing the government into separate branches, with checks and balances, would prevent any one branch or person from becoming too powerful.
The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, were a diverse group composed of those who opposed the Constitution because they believed it threatened the sovereignty and prestige of the states, localities, or individuals. They were worried that the position of the president might evolve into a monarchy, and that the federal government would be too far removed to represent the average citizen. They wanted guaranteed protection for certain basic liberties, such as freedom of speech and the right to a trial by jury.
The Anti-Federalists mobilized against the Constitution in state legislatures across the country, making ratification contingent on a Bill of Rights. In response to these demands, the Federalists agreed to consider amendments to be added to the new Constitution, and James Madison, a Federalist, introduced what would become the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights. This helped to ensure that the Constitution was successfully ratified.
The Bill of Rights was added in 1791 and included protections for individual rights and stronger representation for the states. It has become the most important part of the Constitution for most Americans, influencing Supreme Court cases and shaping American society.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was ratified in 1788. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth and final state needed to ratify the Constitution.
There were 13 states at the time.
The Articles of Confederation, which was adopted in mid-November 1777.
