Jonah Patel
The U.S. Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America. The journey to ratification was long and arduous. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. However, it wasn't until May 29, 1790, that all 13 states had ratified the Constitution, with Rhode Island being the last to approve the document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the U.S. Constitution became the official framework for the government | June 21, 1788 |
| Date the Constitution was signed | September 17, 1787 |
| First state to ratify the Constitution | Delaware, December 7, 1787 |
| Date the Bill of Rights was ratified | December 15, 1791 |
| Date all 13 states ratified the Constitution | May 29, 1790 |
| Date of the first federal elections | December 15, 1788 |
| Date the new government was set to begin | March 4, 1789 |
| First U.S. President | George Washington |
| First Vice President | John Adams |
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What You'll Learn
The U.S. Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788
The road to ratification was long and challenging. Before the new Constitution was ratified, the Articles of Confederation governed the country. This document was designed for a newly formed nation made up of states acting more like independent, sovereign nations. However, it became apparent to America's leaders that long-term stability required a stronger, more centralised government. New York's Alexander Hamilton led the push for a constitutional convention to re-examine the nation's governing document.
The Confederation Congress supported Hamilton's initiative, and on May 25, 1787, representatives from all 13 states convened in Philadelphia. The initial goal of the convention was to amend the Articles of Confederation. However, the final outcome was the proposal and creation of an entirely new form of government. After three months, on September 17, 1787, the convention concluded with 38 out of 41 delegates signing the new U.S. Constitution.
Under Article VII, it was agreed that the document would only become binding once ratified by nine of the 13 existing states. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire's ratification pushed the total number of states in favour to nine, officially establishing the U.S. Constitution as the nation's framework.
The first federal elections under the new Constitution were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, and the new government took office on March 4, 1789, with George Washington as President and John Adams as Vice President. The Constitution continued to evolve, with Madison introducing 17 amendments born from the Massachusetts Compromise. Congress adopted 12 of these on September 25, 1789, sending them to the states for ratification. Ten of these amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
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Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution
The United States Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify the document. However, the journey to ratification was long and arduous, with the process beginning in May 1787, when representatives from all 13 states convened in Philadelphia to participate in the Constitutional Convention.
Delaware's ratification of the Constitution was particularly notable given the state's small size and limited influence. In fact, Delaware was so small that it had no major economic centre or product. Nonetheless, its delegates made important contributions to the Constitutional Convention, including proposing a solution to address the representation of small versus large states.
The citizens of Delaware desired a stronger national government than what was provided under the Articles of Confederation, which had been the constitution of the United States since 1781. The Articles gave too much political power to individual states, rendering the national government relatively powerless. Delaware's quick ratification of the Constitution reflected the state's support for a stronger, more centralized government.
Following Delaware's lead, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut also ratified the Constitution. However, it was not until New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify on June 21, 1788, that the Constitution officially became the framework of the United States government.
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The Constitution was ratified by all 13 states by May 29, 1790
The U.S. Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify the document. However, it took until May 29, 1790, for all 13 states to ratify the Constitution, with Rhode Island being the last state to approve it.
The process of ratifying the Constitution was long and arduous. The country was governed by the Articles of Confederation, which allowed states to act more like independent, sovereign nations. It became clear to America's leaders that a stronger, more centralized government was needed for future stability. Alexander Hamilton led the call for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation's governing document. All 13 states were invited to send representatives to Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, to participate in the Convention.
The Convention's initial purpose was to amend the Articles of Confederation. However, the outcome was the proposal and creation of a new form of government. The Convention concluded on September 17, 1787, with the signing of the new U.S. Constitution by 38 out of 41 delegates. Under Article VII, the document required ratification by nine of the 13 states to become binding. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
After New Hampshire's ratification on June 21, 1788, the Constitution became the official framework of the U.S. government. The first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, and the new government began on March 4, 1789, with George Washington as President and John Adams as Vice President.
The Constitution continued to evolve, and Madison introduced 17 amendments born from the Massachusetts Compromise. Congress adopted 12 of these amendments on September 25, 1789, sending them to the states for ratification. Ten of these, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
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The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791
The Bill of Rights, comprising the first ten amendments to the US Constitution, was ratified on December 15, 1791. This was a significant milestone in the evolution of the US Constitution and the protection of the rights of Americans.
The journey towards the ratification of the Bill of Rights began with the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787, by 38 out of 41 delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The Convention's initial purpose was to amend the Articles of Confederation, but it ultimately resulted in the creation of a new form of government. The Constitution stipulated that it would not come into force until it was ratified by nine of the 13 existing states.
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by eight other states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, making it the official framework of the US government. However, the process of ratification continued, and it was not until May 29, 1790, that all 13 states had ratified the Constitution, with Rhode Island being the last state to approve the document.
Even after the Constitution's ratification, efforts were made to amend and strengthen it. James Madison, for instance, introduced 17 amendments to the Constitution, of which Congress adopted twelve on September 25, 1789, to be sent to the states for ratification. Ten of these amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791, becoming an integral part of the US Constitution.
The Bill of Rights was a significant development in the history of the United States, as it guaranteed certain fundamental rights and freedoms for its citizens, including freedom of speech, religion, and the right to bear arms. It continues to be a cornerstone of American democracy, shaping legislation and guiding judicial decisions to this day.
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George Washington was the first president
The U.S. Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document.
As the first president, Washington had the unique opportunity to shape the nation's future by setting precedents. He was conscious of this responsibility, as reflected in a letter to James Madison, where he wrote, "As the first of every thing, in our situation will serve to establish a Precedent, it is devoutly wished on my part, that these precedents may be fixed on true principles." Washington's cabinet included prominent figures such as Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Henry Knox, and Edmund Randolph.
During his presidency, Washington navigated complex foreign policy decisions, such as maintaining neutrality during the war between France and England. He also confronted various crises and set the template for presidential leadership. Additionally, Washington delivered the first State of the Union address to Congress in 1790, addressing defence, foreign policy, economic, education, and immigration topics.
Washington served two terms as president, from 1789 to 1797. He had initially planned to retire after his first term due to health issues and infighting in his cabinet. However, he was persuaded to run for a second term and was unanimously re-elected. After his retirement, Washington returned to Mount Vernon, where he died of a throat infection on December 14, 1799.
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Frequently asked questions
Ratification of 3/4 of the US Constitution occurred on December 7, 1787, when Pennsylvania became the second of nine states required to ratify the document.
On June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution.
All 13 states ratified the US Constitution by May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document.
