Eleanor Finch
The ratification of the Constitution was a long and arduous process. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on 7 December 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. However, it wasn't until New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution on 21 June 1788 that it became the official framework of the government of the United States of America. The final state to ratify the Constitution was Rhode Island on 29 May 1790.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | 21 June 1788 |
| First state to ratify | Delaware, on 7 December 1787 |
| Ninth state to ratify | New Hampshire, on 21 June 1788 |
| Date of full ratification | 29 May 1790 |
| Date of Bill of Rights ratification | End of 1791 |
| Date of capital location decision | 16 July 1790 |
| States that ratified after full ratification | North Carolina and Rhode Island |
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What You'll Learn
- Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on 7 December 1787
- The Constitution became the official framework of the US government on 21 June 1788
- North Carolina and Rhode Island were the last states to ratify the Constitution
- The Bill of Rights was ratified at the end of 1791
- The location of the capital was decided on 16 July 1790
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on 7 December 1787
Hamilton and James Madison led the lobbying efforts for votes in favour of ratifying the Constitution. With assistance from John Jay, they produced the 85 essays known as "The Federalist Papers" that explained and defended how the proposed new government would function. The essays were published in newspapers nationwide.
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware, on 7 December 1787. This was followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. 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.
On 21 June 1788, the Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The constitution was subsequently ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and, finally, New Hampshire. The U.S. did not begin to look and function remotely like it does today until several years later. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until 29 May 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
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The Constitution became the official framework of the US government on 21 June 1788
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.
Even after the Constitution’s ratification, the US did not begin to look and function remotely like it does today until several years later. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until 29 May 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document, and the Bill of Rights was not ratified to become part of the Constitution until the end of the following year. Moreover, the capital was not set until 16 July 1790, almost a year and a half after the general elections took place. The location of the capital was born, like most decisions in the formation of the budding nation, out of negotiation.
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North Carolina and Rhode Island were the last states to ratify the Constitution
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on 7 December 1787. The Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America on 21 June 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it.
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The Bill of Rights was ratified at the end of 1791
The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process. Until the new Constitution was ratified, the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation. This document was tailored to a newly formed nation made of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries. However, it quickly became clear to some of America’s leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralised government.
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The location of the capital was decided on 16 July 1790
The ratification of the Constitution was the result of lobbying efforts led by Hamilton and James Madison, with assistance from John Jay. Together, they produced 85 essays known as "The Federalist Papers", which explained and defended how the proposed new government would function. The essays were published in newspapers nationwide.
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 Bill of Rights was not ratified to become part of the Constitution until the end of 1791.
North Carolina and Rhode Island were the last states to vote to ratify the new Constitution, after Congress voted in 1789 to send amendments to the states for approval. The sovereign people ultimately decided to accept a new Constitution with a central government wielding greater powers to protect their rights, safety, and happiness.
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Frequently asked questions
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.
Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution, on May 29, 1790.
After New Hampshire, the Constitution was ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, and South Carolina.
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