Malcolm Rivera
Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the US Constitution, doing so on 29 May 1790. The state had a unique role in the drafting and ratification of the Constitution, being the only state not to send delegates to the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Rhode Island's resistance to ratifying the Constitution was controversial and earned it the nickname 'Rogue Island'.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | 29 May 1790 |
| Vote | 34 to 32 |
| Position in ratifying | Last state |
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What You'll Learn
- Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution
- The state was the only one not to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787
- The state was threatened with a trade embargo for non-compliance
- Rhode Island was nicknamed 'Rogue Island' and 'the Perverse Sister'
- The state eventually ratified the Constitution in 1790
Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution
Rhode Island was the only state not to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. When asked to convene a state convention to ratify the Constitution, Rhode Island instead sent the ratification question to individual towns, asking them to vote. Eventually, due to secession threats from Providence, Newport, and Bristol, and fearing reprisals from the other 12 ratifying states, Rhode Island held a convention and ratified the Constitution.
Rhode Island's resistance was controversial and the state acquired a reputation for opposing a closer union with the other former British colonies that had formed the United States of America. It was given a number of deprecatory nicknames, including "Rogue Island", "the Perverse Sister", "an evil genius", and "the Quintessence of Villainy".
Rhode Island's resistance was due to its concern that the Constitution gave too much power to the central government at the expense of the states.
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The state was the only one not to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787
Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution, doing so on 29 May 1790. The state was the only one not to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
Rhode Island had a unique role in the drafting and ratification of the US Constitution. It was the only state that did not participate in the proceedings of the convention, which was convened to discuss amendments to the Articles of Confederation. Instead of sending delegates, Rhode Island sent the ratification question to individual towns, asking them to vote. This was due to its concern that the Constitution gave too much power to the central government at the expense of the states.
Rhode Island's resistance to ratifying the Constitution earned it a number of deprecatory nicknames, including "Rogue Island", "the Perverse Sister", "an evil genius", and "the Quintessence of Villainy". The state had a reputation for opposing a closer union with the other former British colonies that had formed the United States of America. It vetoed an act of the Congress of the Confederation, which led to the press war that resulted in these nicknames.
Eventually, due to secession threats from Providence, Newport, and Bristol, and fearing reprisals from the other 12 ratifying states, Rhode Island held a convention and ratified the Constitution in 1790.
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The state was threatened with a trade embargo for non-compliance
Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the US Constitution, doing so on 29 May 1790. The state was threatened with a trade embargo for non-compliance.
Rhode Island had a reputation for opposing a closer union with the other former British colonies that had formed the United States of America. It was the only state not to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Instead, when asked to ratify the Constitution, Rhode Island sent the question to individual towns to vote on. Eventually, due to secession threats from Providence, Newport, and Bristol, and fearing reprisals from the other 12 ratifying states, Rhode Island held a convention and ratified the Constitution.
Rhode Island was concerned that the Constitution gave too much power to the central government at the expense of the states. The state had vetoed an act of the Congress of the Confederation, which earned it the nickname 'Rogue Island'. This press war lasted for nearly 10 years.
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Rhode Island was nicknamed 'Rogue Island' and 'the Perverse Sister'
Rhode Island was nicknamed Rogue Island and the Perverse Sister because of its resistance to ratifying the United States Constitution. It was the last state to ratify the Constitution, on 29 May 1790, more than a year after it went into effect.
Rhode Island was the only state not to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It was also the only state not to participate in the convention's proceedings. Instead, it sent the ratification question to individual towns, asking them to vote. This was because of its concern that the Constitution gave too much power to the central government at the expense of the states.
Rhode Island's resistance to ratifying the Constitution earned it a number of deprecatory nicknames, including "Rogue Island", "the Perverse Sister", "an evil genius", and "the Quintessence of Villainy". The name "Rogue Island" was first used by officials because of the colony's widespread smuggling. It was also called "Rogue's Island" because it was a haven for religious and political dissenters and social outcasts.
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The state eventually ratified the Constitution in 1790
Rhode Island was the only state not to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. When asked to convene a state convention to ratify the Constitution, Rhode Island instead sent the ratification question to individual towns, asking them to vote. Eventually, due to secession threats from Providence, Newport, and Bristol, and fearing reprisals from the other 12 ratifying states, Rhode Island held a convention and ratified the Constitution in 1790.
Rhode Island's resistance to ratifying the Constitution was due to several concerns, including the belief that the Constitution gave too much power to the central government at the expense of the states. The state also acquired a reputation for opposing a closer union with the other former British colonies that had formed the United States of America.
Rhode Island's ratification of the Constitution was a controversial process that occurred only after the United States threatened a trade embargo against the state for non-compliance. On May 29, 1790, Rhode Island finally ratified the Constitution by a vote of 34 to 32, becoming the last state to do so, more than a year after the Constitution went into effect. George Washington notified Congress of this ratification on June 1, 1790.
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Frequently asked questions
Rhode Island ratified the Constitution on 29 May 1790.
Rhode Island was the only state not to send delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. When asked to convene a state convention to ratify the Constitution, Rhode Island sent the ratification question to individual towns for a vote.
Rhode Island was concerned that the Constitution gave too much power to the central government at the expense of the states.
Rhode Island acquired a reputation for opposing a closer union with the other former British colonies that had formed the United States of America. It was nicknamed "Rogue Island" and "the Perverse Sister".
Rhode Island eventually held a convention and ratified the Constitution in 1790 due to secession threats from Providence, Newport, and Bristol, and fearing reprisals from the other 12 ratifying states.
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