New Jersey And Pennsylvania: Constitution Ratification Timeline

New Jersey and Pennsylvania were among the first states to ratify the Constitution, on December 18, 1787, and December 7, 1787, respectively. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.

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New Jersey ratified the Constitution on 18 December 1787

Some states voiced opposition to the Constitution on the grounds that it did not provide protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. However, the terms of the Massachusetts Compromise reached in February 1788 stipulated that amendments to that effect—what became the Bill of Rights—would be immediately proposed. The constitution was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and, finally, New Hampshire. After ratification, Congress set dates for the first federal elections and the official implementation of the Constitution.

Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution before New Jersey

The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787. Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution five days later, on December 12, 1787. New Jersey followed six days after that, on December 18, 1787.

The Constitution was subsequently ratified by Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and, finally, New Hampshire. After ratification, Congress set dates for the first federal elections and the official implementation of the Constitution.

New Jersey's first state constitution was adopted on 2 July 1776

New Jersey ratified the US Constitution on 18 December 1787, after Delaware, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Connecticut.

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The New Jersey State Constitution was composed in five days

New Jersey's first state constitution was composed in five days at the end of June 1776. The American Revolutionary War was underway and George Washington had recently been defeated in New York, putting New Jersey in imminent danger of invasion. With Patriot and Tory factions plotting and battling each other, New Jersey was a state at war and was nearly a state at civil war. The New Jersey State Constitution was ratified just two days later on July 2, 1776. Its primary objective was to provide a basic governmental framework that would preempt New Jersey's fall into anarchy. The constitution served as the charter document for the state's government for the next 68 years.

New Jersey ratified the US Constitution on December 18, 1787. It was the fourth state to do so, after Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.

The New Jersey State Constitution was ratified two days after it was composed

New Jersey's first state constitution was composed and ratified in the midst of the American Revolutionary War. George Washington had recently been defeated in New York, putting New Jersey in imminent danger of invasion. The state was at war, and nearly at civil war, with Patriot and Tory factions plotting and battling each other. Composed in a span of five days and ratified only two days later, on July 2, 1776, the New Jersey State Constitution reflects the turbulence and uncertainty of the moment. Its primary objective was to provide a basic governmental framework that would preempt New Jersey's fall into anarchy. The constitution served as the charter document for the state's government for the next 68 years.

New Jersey was the third state to ratify the United States Constitution, doing so on December 18, 1787. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania. After New Jersey, the constitution was ratified by Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and, finally, New Hampshire. After ratification, Congress set dates for the first federal elections and the official implementation of the Constitution.

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