
North Carolina and Rhode Island were two of the last states to ratify the US Constitution, doing so on November 21, 1789, and May 29, 1790, respectively. Both states were initially reluctant to ratify the Constitution, with widespread criticism and scepticism remaining in both states after the 1787 Philadelphia Convention. By the time North Carolina and Rhode Island ratified the Constitution, it was already in effect, meaning that both states were independent political societies with no constitutional relationship with the United States.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| North Carolina ratified the Constitution | 21 November 1789 |
| Rhode Island ratified the Constitution | 29 May 1790 |
| North Carolina and Rhode Island ratified the Constitution | After it was already in effect |
| North Carolina and Rhode Island ratified the Constitution | After being assured a declaration of rights would be added |
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What You'll Learn
- North Carolina ratified the Constitution on November 21, 1789
- Rhode Island ratified the Constitution on May 29, 1790
- Both states were independent political societies with no constitutional relationship with the US
- The Constitution was already in effect when North Carolina and Rhode Island ratified it
- The vote was divided in North Carolina: 195 to 77

North Carolina ratified the Constitution on November 21, 1789
North Carolina and Rhode Island were initially independent and separated from the United States. They were following this course as of March 4, 1789, and withheld their ratification to preserve their political independence.
The people of Rhode Island ratified the U.S. Constitution on May 29, 1790. By this time, the Constitution was already in effect, and Rhode Island was an independent political society with no constitutional relationship with the United States.
The Philadelphia Convention of 1787 drafted a new constitution, which was then submitted to respective state ratification conventions for approval. Nine states approved the Constitution, and the new Union was formed. However, there was widespread criticism and skepticism in key states, including Rhode Island and North Carolina.
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Rhode Island ratified the Constitution on May 29, 1790
Rhode Island was one of the key states that had been critical of the Constitution, along with New York, Virginia, and North Carolina. North Carolina also ratified the Constitution on November 21, 1789, at the Fayetteville Convention.
Despite the fact that the Constitution was already in effect, the ratification of the Constitution by North Carolina and Rhode Island was an important step in their respective admissions into the United States. However, this process was characterised by an aberration which rendered their admittance constitutionally suspect.
There is some debate about the exact date on which the Constitution became effective. Some argue that it was either June 21 or July 2, 1788, when New Hampshire ratified the Constitution. This would mean that North Carolina and Rhode Island were independent and separated from the United States for almost two years before they ratified the Constitution.
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Both states were independent political societies with no constitutional relationship with the US
North Carolina and Rhode Island were the last two states to ratify the US Constitution, doing so on 21 November 1789 and 29 May 1790, respectively. By this time, the Constitution was already in effect, meaning that both states were independent political societies with no constitutional relationship with the US.
North Carolina and Rhode Island were initially reluctant to ratify the Constitution. In fact, as of 4 March 1789, both states were withholding their ratification and preserving their political independence. This was in line with the Jeffersonian ideal of government by consent, which held that each state was a sovereign body, independent of all others, and only to be bound by its own voluntary act.
Widespread criticism and skepticism of the Constitution remained in several key states, including North Carolina and Rhode Island. This is perhaps why these two states were the last to ratify the document. It is also worth noting that, by the time they did so, the Constitution was already in effect.
There is some debate about when the Constitution became effective. Some argue that it was on 21 June 1788, when New Hampshire ratified the document, or on 2 July 1788, when the Confederation Congress confirmed New Hampshire's ratification. However, the traditionally recognized date is 4 March 1789. Regardless, the fact that North Carolina and Rhode Island ratified the Constitution after this date only serves to emphasize their status as independent political societies.
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The Constitution was already in effect when North Carolina and Rhode Island ratified it
The Constitution was drafted in 1787 and submitted to state ratification conventions for approval. According to Article 7, the ratification of nine states was required for the Constitution to be established. Nine states approved the Constitution, and the new Union was formed. However, North Carolina and Rhode Island were among the key states that expressed widespread criticism and skepticism towards the document. As a result, they withheld their ratification and preserved their political independence, even after the Constitution came into effect.
The admission of North Carolina and Rhode Island into the Union was characterised by an aberration. By the time they ratified the Constitution, they were independent political societies with no constitutional relationship with the United States. This unique status of North Carolina and Rhode Island as independent and separated from the United States is often overlooked but remains a significant aspect of their historical relationship with the Union.
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The vote was divided in North Carolina: 195 to 77
North Carolina and Rhode Island were two of the last states to ratify the US Constitution. North Carolina ratified the Constitution on 21 November 1789, and Rhode Island followed on 29 May 1790. By this time, the Constitution was already in effect, and both states were independent political societies with no constitutional relationship with the United States.
North Carolina's vote to ratify the Constitution was 195 to 77. This vote took place at the Fayetteville Convention, after the framers of the Constitution assured North Carolina that a declaration of rights would be added.
Rhode Island was also initially sceptical of the Constitution, and it withheld its ratification to preserve its political independence.
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Frequently asked questions
North Carolina ratified the Constitution on 21 November 1789.
Rhode Island ratified the Constitution on 29 May 1790.
By the time North Carolina and Rhode Island ratified the Constitution, it was already in effect. This meant that both states were independent political societies with no constitutional relationship with the United States.









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