Jonah Patel
The United States Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | 21 June 1788 |
| First state to ratify | Delaware |
| Date of Delaware's ratification | 7 December 1787 |
| Date of ratification by required number of states | Between 7 December 1787 and 21 June 1788 |
| Number of states required to ratify | 9 of 13 |
| Date of ratification by all states | 29 May 1790 |
| Date of Bill of Rights ratification | 15 December 1791 |
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What You'll Learn
- The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787
- The Constitution was ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and New Hampshire
- The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791
- The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790
- The Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States on June 21, 1788
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787
On June 21, 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 required nine of 13 states had ratified the Constitution between December 7, 1787, and June 21, 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. The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791.
The Power to Ratify Treaties
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The Constitution was ratified by Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and New Hampshire
The journey to ratification was not without its challenges. Some states voiced opposition to the Constitution on the grounds that it did not provide adequate protection for certain rights, including freedom of speech, religion, and the press. However, the terms of the Massachusetts Compromise, reached in February 1788, stipulated that amendments—what became the Bill of Rights—would be immediately proposed. Ten of those amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.
Challenges of Ratifying the Constitution: Why Was It So Hard?
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The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791
The Constitution was drafted in 1787 and sent to the states for debate and ratification votes. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. By June 21, 1788, the required nine of 13 states had ratified the Constitution, making it the official framework for the government of the United States of America.
However, some states voiced opposition to the Constitution on the grounds that it did not provide adequate protection for certain rights, such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. To address these concerns, the Massachusetts Compromise was reached in February 1788, which stipulated that amendments—what became the Bill of Rights—would be immediately proposed.
The Bill of Rights consisted of ten amendments, which were ratified one by one by the states. The process took several years, and the Bill of Rights was not fully ratified and integrated into the Constitution until December 15, 1791. This marked the conclusion of a significant chapter in the evolution of the United States' governing document.
The Constitution Ratification: A Historical Day in America
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The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790
The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process. The country was governed by the Articles of Confederation until the new Constitution was ratified. 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.
New York's Alexander Hamilton thus led the call for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation's governing document. A Committee of Detail prepared a draft Constitution for delegates to begin reviewing in early August 1787. On September 17, 1787, 39 of the Constitutional Convention's 55 delegates signed the U.S. Constitution. It was then sent to the states for debate and ratification votes.
Between December 7, 1787, and June 21, 1788, the required nine of 13 states had ratified the Constitution, making it the official framework for the government of the United States of America.
Opposition to the Constitution: The Anti-Federalists' Stance
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The Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States on June 21, 1788
The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document. The Bill of Rights was not ratified to become part of the Constitution until the end of the following year.
Even after the Constitution’s ratification, the U.S. did not begin to look and function remotely like it does today until several years later. Until the new Constitution was ratified, the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation. That document was tailored to a newly formed nation made of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries, and it quickly became clear to some of America’s leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralised government.
New York’s Alexander Hamilton thus led the call for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation’s governing document.
Anti-Federalist Constitution Ratification: Main Opposition Arguments
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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.
The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15, 1791.
