Simone Lawson
Delaware was the first state to ratify the United States Constitution, doing so on December 7, 1787. The Delaware Ratifying Convention met on December 3, 1787, and the state's delegates unanimously voted in favour of ratification. Delaware's ratification of the Constitution was significant, as it set a precedent for other states to follow and contributed to the establishment of the United States as a nation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date Delaware ratified the Constitution | 7 December 1787 |
| Delaware's position | First state to ratify the Constitution |
| Vote | Unanimous |
| Number of delegates | 30 |
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What You'll Learn
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution
Delaware's ratification of the Constitution was significant as it helped to set the United States on the path towards a new form of government. The proposed constitution that was submitted to the individual states for ratification in 1787 was an entirely new document that gave considerable power to the national government. In many states, supporters of the Articles of Confederation worked to block ratification. However, in Delaware, there was no such opposition. All of the state's normally combative political factions favoured the new constitution.
Delaware's delegates to the ratification convention, who met in Dover at Battell's Tavern (also known as the Golden Fleece Tavern), unanimously voted to make their state the first to ratify the United States Constitution. This set a precedent for other states to follow and helped to ensure that the Constitution would become the law of the land.
The Continental Congress had adopted the Constitution of the United States on September 17, 1787, and an official copy of the document was presented to the Delaware Assembly by the President of Delaware, Thomas Collins, on October 24, 1787. This began the process of ratification in Delaware, which culminated in the state's unanimous vote to ratify on December 7.
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Delaware's delegates contributed to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia
Delaware ratified the Constitution on 7 December 1787, becoming the first state to do so.
Delaware's ratification of the Constitution was unanimous, with all of the state's normally combative political factions favouring the new constitution. This was in contrast to many other states, where supporters of the Articles of Confederation worked hard to block ratification.
Delaware's leadership in ratifying the Constitution helped to make it the law of the land. The Continental Congress adopted the Constitution of the United States on 17 September 1787, and an official copy of the document was presented to the Delaware Assembly by the President of Delaware, Thomas Collins, on 24 October 1787.
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Delaware's ratification was unanimous
Delaware's ratification of the Constitution was unanimous. The state was admitted as "The First State" on December 7, 1787, after the Delaware Ratifying Convention met on December 3, 1787.
Delaware was a small state in terms of area and population, with no major economic centre or product. Despite this, it had a large coastline. On November 10, 1787, both branches of the Delaware Legislature adopted a bill which called for a State Convention to be held in Dover, Delaware, on December 3, 1787, for the purpose of considering the ratification of the new Federal Constitution.
On November 26, 1787, Delaware elected thirty delegates to a state convention to consider ratification. The delegates met in Dover at Battell's Tavern (also known as the Golden Fleece Tavern) and unanimously made Delaware the first state to ratify the United States Constitution.
Delaware's delegates contributed to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, including the proposal that eventually addressed small versus large state representation.
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Delaware's ratification was on December 7, 1787
Delaware's ratification of the Constitution was on December 7, 1787. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, and it did so by a unanimous vote. The Delaware Ratifying Convention met on December 3, 1787, and just four days later, the state ratified the Constitution.
Delaware's ratification was significant because it set the precedent for the adoption of the United States Constitution as the law of the land. The state's delegates also contributed to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where they proposed solutions to address the representation of small versus large states.
The proposed constitution submitted to the individual states for ratification in 1787 was an entirely new document that gave considerable power to the national government. In Delaware, there was no overt opposition to the new constitution. All of the state's normally combative political factions favoured it. On November 26, 1787, Delaware elected thirty delegates to a state convention to consider ratification. These delegates met in Dover at Battell's Tavern (also known as the Golden Fleece Tavern) and unanimously ratified the Constitution.
Delaware's early and unanimous ratification of the Constitution demonstrated its commitment to the formation of a strong national government and set an example for other states to follow.
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Delaware's ratification was preceded by a State Convention in Dover
Delaware was a small state in terms of area and population, with no major economic centre or product. However, it had a large coastline. Despite its size, Delaware played a significant role in the ratification process, becoming the first state to ratify the Constitution on 7 December 1787. This was done by a unanimous vote of 30-0.
Delaware's delegates also contributed to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where they proposed a solution to the issue of small versus large state representation. This proposal was eventually adopted.
The 1776 constitution was replaced by the Delaware Constitution of 1792, which remained in effect until 1831. A convention in that year approved a third state constitution, which was replaced by the current constitution in 1897.
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Frequently asked questions
Delaware ratified the Constitution on December 7, 1787.
The vote was unanimous, 30-0.
The Delaware Ratifying Convention met on December 3, 1787.
The Delaware Convention met in August 1776.
Delaware elected 30 delegates to the state convention.
