Eleanor Finch
The ratification of the US Constitution was a long and arduous process. Talk of ratifying the Constitution began on May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention met for the first time at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and the ratification process began that day. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of first discussion | 25 May 1787 |
| Date of first ratification | 7 December 1787 |
| First state to ratify | Delaware |
| Date of official ratification | 21 June 1788 |
| State that officially ratified | New Hampshire |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The drafting of the Constitution of the United States began on May 25, 1787
- The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787
- The ratification process for the Constitution began on September 17, 1787
- The Constitution was ratified in Massachusetts, followed by Maryland and South Carolina
- The Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America on June 21, 1788
The drafting of the Constitution of the United States began on May 25, 1787
The Constitutional Convention ended on September 17, 1787, when the Frame of Government drafted by the delegates was adopted and signed. The ratification process for the Constitution began that day, with Delaware becoming the first state to ratify the document on December 7, 1787. This was followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
However, some states, notably Massachusetts, opposed the Constitution on the grounds that it did not reserve undelegated powers to the states and lacked protection for basic political rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. A compromise was reached in February 1788, with the assurance that amendments to that effect would be immediately proposed, and the Constitution was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina.
The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process, with the Constitution finally becoming the official framework of the US government on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it.
The Process of Ratifying the US Constitution
You may want to see also
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787
The ratification process for the Constitution of the United States began on September 17, 1787, the day the Frame of Government drafted by the convention's delegates to replace the Articles of Confederation was adopted and signed. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. In quick succession, these five states ratified the Constitution, with Delaware setting the precedent for the rest of the country.
The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process, with the country previously being governed by the Articles of Confederation. However, it quickly became clear to some of America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralised government. This led to the call for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation's governing document, and the drafting of the Constitution began on May 25, 1787.
The ratification process was not without opposition, as some states, especially Massachusetts, objected to the document. They argued that it failed to reserve undelegated powers to the states and lacked constitutional protection of basic political rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. Despite these concerns, a compromise was reached in February 1788, under which Massachusetts and other states agreed to ratify the Constitution with the assurance that amendments would be immediately proposed.
The Constitution was then ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina, bringing the total number of states approving the document to eight by the start of the ratification convention in Richmond in May 1788. On June 25, 1788, the Constitution was approved by a margin of 89 to 79, and the document became the official framework of the government of the United States of America when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it on June 21, 1788. The final state to ratify the Constitution was Rhode Island on May 29, 1790, marking the end of the ratification process and the beginning of the official implementation of the Constitution.
Anti-Federalists: Constitution Ratification Supporters or Detractors?
You may want to see also
The ratification process for the Constitution began on September 17, 1787
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. However, some states voiced opposition to the Constitution, arguing that it did not provide protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. A compromise was reached in February 1788, with the Massachusetts Compromise stipulating that amendments to that effect—what became the Bill of Rights—would be immediately proposed.
The Constitution was then ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify the Constitution, making it the official framework of the government of the United States of America. The ratification process ended when the final state, Rhode Island, ratified the Constitution on May 29, 1790.
The Evolution of Russia's Constitution: Ratification Timeline
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Constitution was ratified in Massachusetts, followed by Maryland and South Carolina
However, the journey to ratification was not without opposition. Some states, including Massachusetts, initially opposed the document on the grounds that it failed to reserve undelegated powers to the states and lacked constitutional protection of basic political rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. Despite these concerns, a compromise was reached in February 1788, known as the Massachusetts Compromise, which stipulated that amendments to address these issues would be immediately proposed.
As a result of this compromise, the Constitution was narrowly ratified in Massachusetts, followed by Maryland and South Carolina. By June 25, 1788, eight states had already approved the Constitution, and the vote was taken at the ratification convention in Richmond. The Constitution was approved by a margin of 89 to 79, with New Hampshire becoming the ninth state to ratify it on June 21, 1788, making it the official framework of the government of the United States of America.
The ratification of the Constitution marked a significant step towards a stronger, more centralized government for the newly formed nation, transitioning from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution as the governing document.
Wyoming's Place in History: Ratifying the Constitution
You may want to see also
The Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America on June 21, 1788
The Constitutional Convention ended on September 17, 1787, when the Frame of Government drafted by the convention's delegates to replace the Articles was adopted and signed. The ratification process began that day, with Delaware becoming the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787. This was followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. However, some states, including Massachusetts, opposed the document on the grounds that it failed to reserve undelegated powers to the states and lacked protection for basic political rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
A compromise was reached in February 1788, under which Massachusetts and other states agreed to ratify the document with the assurance that amendments would be immediately proposed to address these concerns. The Constitution was thus ratified in Massachusetts, followed by Maryland and South Carolina. By May 1788, eight states had approved the Constitution. The vote in Virginia on June 25, 1788, was approved by a margin of 89 to 79, with New Hampshire having approved the Constitution just before.
The Federalist Party: Forging America's Future
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Talk of ratifying the Constitution began on May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention met for the first time.
The Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it.
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, on December 7, 1787.
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut ratified the Constitution in quick succession after Delaware.
Some states, especially Massachusetts, opposed the Constitution on the grounds that it did not reserve undelegated powers to the states and lacked protection for basic political rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
