Omar Bennett
Connecticut ratified the US Constitution on 9 January 1788, becoming the fifth state to do so. The state was represented by three men: Roger Sherman, Oliver Ellsworth, and William Samuel Johnson. The US Constitution was drafted in May 1787 and did not become the 'supreme law of the land' until nine of the 13 states ratified it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 9 January 1788 |
| Vote | 128-40 |
| State | Connecticut |
| Delegates | Oliver Ellsworth, William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman |
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What You'll Learn
- Connecticut ratified the US Constitution on 9 January 1788
- Connecticut was the fifth state to ratify the Constitution
- The vote was 128-40
- Roger Sherman, Oliver Ellsworth and William Samuel Johnson were delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia
- The US Constitution was approved at a renegade convention on 17 September 1787
Connecticut ratified the US Constitution on 9 January 1788
The state was represented by three distinguished men: Roger Sherman, who signed the Declaration of Independence and, at that time, served as New Haven's first mayor; Oliver Ellsworth, a delegate to the Continental Congress during the Revolution and a state judge; and William Samuel Johnson, a former militia officer and representative to the Congress of the Confederation (1785-1787).
These men were sent to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia with a directive to create a more workable government in accordance with republican principles. Connecticut had suffered under the Articles of Confederation, finding it difficult to discharge its war debts and rebuild its economy while paying heavy import duties to New York State.
The debate at the convention polarised between large and small states over the issue of legislative representation, but Connecticut's delegates proved invaluable. The US Constitution was approved at a renegade convention on 17 September 1787 but did not become "the supreme law of the land" until 9 of the 13 states ratified the document.
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Connecticut was the fifth state to ratify the Constitution
The Constitution was drafted in Philadelphia in May 1787, and Connecticut was represented by Roger Sherman, Oliver Ellsworth and William Samuel Johnson. All three men advocated for the Constitution's eventual ratification by Connecticut's state legislature.
The vote in Connecticut was 128-40 in favour of ratification. Connecticut had suffered under the Articles of Confederation, finding it difficult to discharge its war debts and rebuild its economy. The Constitution was eventually ratified by all 13 states, becoming "the supreme law of the land".
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The vote was 128-40
On January 9, 1788, Connecticut ratified the US Constitution by a vote of 128-40. Connecticut was the fifth state to ratify the Constitution, after Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Georgia. The state's ratification was the result of the efforts of three distinguished delegates: Roger Sherman, Oliver Ellsworth, and William Samuel Johnson. These men were sent to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia with a directive to create a more workable government in accordance with republican principles.
The vote of 128-40 in favour of ratification reflected the strong support for the Constitution among Connecticut's citizens. The state had suffered under the Articles of Confederation, struggling to discharge its war debts and rebuild its economy while paying heavy import duties to New York State. The new Constitution offered a more unified and efficient form of government that many in Connecticut believed would better serve their interests.
The delegates from Connecticut played a crucial role in the Constitutional Convention. Roger Sherman, for example, originally favoured strengthening the Articles of Confederation and had drafted amendments to give the Continental Congress "power to levy imports, to establish a supreme court, and to make laws binding on all the people." However, he ultimately supported the creation of a new governing document, the US Constitution, which was ratified by the attendees of the Convention.
The vote of 128-40 in favour of ratification in Connecticut was a significant step towards the establishment of the United States of America as we know it today. It demonstrated the state's commitment to a strong and unified nation, governed by a Constitution that guaranteed certain fundamental rights and freedoms. The ratification process continued in the hope for unanimous approval by all 13 states, which was eventually achieved.
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Roger Sherman, Oliver Ellsworth and William Samuel Johnson were delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia
On 9 January 1788, Connecticut ratified the US Constitution, becoming the fifth state to do so. Connecticut's ratification came after a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where delegates from every state except Rhode Island gathered in May 1787 to revamp the Articles of Confederation. Instead, they drafted a new governing document, the US Constitution, which was later ratified by the attendees.
Roger Sherman, Oliver Ellsworth and William Samuel Johnson were Connecticut's three delegates at the convention. Sherman, who had signed the Declaration of Independence and was serving as New Haven's first mayor, originally favoured strengthening the Articles of Confederation. He drafted amendments to give the Continental Congress "power to levy imports, to establish a supreme court, and to make laws binding on all the people". Ellsworth, a delegate to the Continental Congress during the Revolution and a state judge, was the first of the three to arrive in Philadelphia on 28 May 1787. Johnson, a former militia officer and representative to the Congress of the Confederation from 1785 to 1787, arrived on 2 June.
The three men proved invaluable as the debate polarised between large and small states over the issue of legislative representation. Their contributions were not restricted to Philadelphia, as all three advocated for and shepherded the Constitution's eventual ratification by Connecticut's state legislature. They were sent with a directive to create a more workable government in accordance with republican principles. Connecticut had suffered under the Articles of Confederation, finding it difficult to discharge its war debts and rebuild its economy while paying heavy import duties to New York State.
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The US Constitution was approved at a renegade convention on 17 September 1787
On 17 September 1787, the US Constitution was approved at a renegade convention. However, it did not become the supreme law of the land until it was ratified by nine of the 13 states. Connecticut ratified the US Constitution on 9 January 1788, becoming the fifth state to do so. The vote was 128-40. Connecticut's ratification followed that of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Georgia.
The three delegates from Connecticut who advocated for the Constitution's ratification were Oliver Ellsworth, William Samuel Johnson and Roger Sherman. All three were distinguished men. Sherman, for example, had signed the Declaration of Independence and was serving as New Haven's first mayor. Ellsworth was a delegate to the Continental Congress during the Revolution and a state judge. Johnson was a former militia officer and representative to the Congress of the Confederation.
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Frequently asked questions
Connecticut ratified the US Constitution on 9 January 1788.
The vote count was 128-40.
The delegates from Connecticut were Roger Sherman, Oliver Ellsworth, and William Samuel Johnson.
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