Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and was later ratified by the states on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789, when the new government officially started operating.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date signed | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of signatories | 39 delegates |
| Date ratified | June 21, 1788 |
| Number of states required for ratification | 9 |
| Date new government started operating | March 4, 1789 |
| Date first Congress passed the Bill of Rights | 1789 |
| Date of first presidential election under the Constitution | 1789 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on 17 September 1787
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 saw delegates debate the Virginia and New Jersey Plans, which proposed different approaches to representation and governance. The result was a landmark agreement that established a federal system with checks and balances, addressing the concerns of both populous and less populous states. The final draft of the Constitution was presented to the convention on 17 September, and it was signed by thirty-nine delegates, declared adopted "by unanimous consent".
The Constitution required ratification from nine states to become effective. The fight for ratification in the states began, with Federalists facing opposition from Anti-Federalists. The Anti-Federalists held enough sway in the state assembly to prevent a vote for a ratifying convention in Pennsylvania, for example. However, the Federalists persevered, and by June 1788, nine states had ratified the Constitution: Delaware, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
The adoption of the US Constitution was a significant step towards creating a unified nation under a tripartite federal government, shaping democracy, protecting minority rights, and providing a framework that has influenced governance worldwide. The new government officially started operating on 4 March 1789, with George Washington as the first president.
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It was ratified by the states on 21 June 1788
The US Constitution was ratified by the states on 21 June 1788, marking a pivotal moment in American history. The Constitution was signed on 17 September 1787 by thirty-nine delegates, but it required ratification from nine states to become effective. This milestone was achieved when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution.
The adoption of the US Constitution was a significant development in the country's history, as it replaced the Articles of Confederation, creating a unified nation under a tripartite federal government. The Articles of Confederation had proven inadequate in addressing the challenges facing the young nation, including war debts, piracy, and rebellion. The Constitution established a federal system with checks and balances, ensuring a balance of power between the government's branches.
The process of ratifying the Constitution was not without opposition. Anti-Federalists, who favoured a weaker central government, attempted to prevent ratification in several states, including Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia. However, the Federalists, led by key figures such as Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, successfully advocated for ratification and established the new national government.
The Constitution's ratification set in motion the formation of a new government, which officially began operating on 4 March 1789. The first Congress passed the Bill of Rights in 1789, which included ten amendments protecting essential freedoms and institutions, such as freedom of the press, freedom of worship, and the right to keep and bear arms. The Constitution has since been amended multiple times to expand civil rights and liberties, such as the Fifteenth Amendment (1870), which prohibited the use of race as a criterion for voting, and the Nineteenth Amendment (1920), which guaranteed women's suffrage.
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Nine states were required to ratify the Constitution
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by thirty-nine delegates. However, it required ratification from nine states to become effective. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
The debate over the ratification of the Constitution of 1787 brought about the need for a more effective national government. The Articles of Confederation, which the Constitution replaced, had proven incapable of addressing the problems facing the new nation, including war debts, piracy, and rebellion.
On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth and final state needed to ratify the Constitution. This day marked the official adoption of the Constitution, and the new government officially started operating on March 4, 1789. The Constitution remains significant for its role in shaping democracy, protecting minority rights, and providing a framework that has influenced governance worldwide.
The process of ratifying the US Constitution was a complex and contentious one. There were differing opinions on the number of states required for ratification, with some suggesting seven, eight, or ten. Ultimately, the decision was made that nine states would provide "a respectable majority" for ratification. This decision proved to be a pivotal moment in American history, as it established a federal system with checks and balances, addressing the concerns of both populous and less-populous states.
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The Federalists faced opposition from Anti-Federalists
The US Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, by thirty-nine delegates, required ratification from nine states to be adopted. The Federalists, supporters of the document, faced opposition from the Anti-Federalists, who were against the ratification of the Constitution. The Anti-Federalists included small farmers and landowners, shopkeepers, and labourers. They favoured strong state governments, a weak central government, direct elections of government officials, and the strengthening of individual liberties.
The Anti-Federalists' opposition to the ratification of the Constitution was based on their fear that the new national government would be too powerful and threaten individual liberties. They believed that the Federalists' plan for a new government strengthened the national government at the expense of the states and the people. The Federalists, on the other hand, were seeking to address the flaws of the Articles of Confederation, which had proven incapable of addressing the problems facing the new nation, including war debts and rebellion.
The political split between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists began in the summer of 1787, when delegates attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia to draft a new plan of government. The Anti-Federalists never organised efficiently across all thirteen states and had to fight the ratification at every state convention. They published articles and delivered speeches against ratification, and some of their most famous supporters, including John Hancock and Sam Adams, led the Anti-Federalist attack.
The Federalists, however, were better organised and connected. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote a series of powerful newspaper essays known as The Federalist Papers. They faced off against a colourful assembly of opponents, including Robert Yates, and their intellectual duels helped flesh out the Constitution's principles. Despite the opposition, the Federalists were able to secure the required nine states for ratification by June 1788, with New Hampshire becoming the critical ninth state.
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The US Constitution is the supreme law of the US
The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States. The need for a constitution arose from the problems with the Articles of Confederation, which established a "firm league of friendship" between the states, but failed to address the issues facing the new nation, including war debts, piracy, and rebellion. The dissatisfaction with the Articles of Confederation led to a series of conventions, culminating in the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787.
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by thirty-nine delegates and required ratification from nine states to become effective. The process of ratification faced opposition from Anti-Federalists, but eventually, on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, officially adopting the Constitution. The new government officially started operating on March 4, 1789.
The Constitution is significant for its role in shaping democracy, protecting minority rights, and providing a framework for governance. It establishes a federal system with checks and balances, ensuring that no branch of government gains supremacy. The powers of the government are separated into three branches, with the powers not assigned to them being reserved for the states.
The Supremacy Clause, introduced as part of the New Jersey Plan, further emphasizes the supremacy of the Constitution as the supreme law of the land. It asserts that federal laws and treaties take precedence over state laws and constitutions. This principle, known as federal preemption, ensures that federal authority and laws are supreme within the boundaries set by the Constitution.
The US Constitution, with its amendments, continues to be the foundation of the US legal system and the supreme law of the land.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by thirty-nine delegates.
The US Constitution was adopted on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it.
Nine states were required to ratify the US Constitution.
The new government officially started operating on March 4, 1789.
