Isabella Carter
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates. However, it was not until June 21, 1788, that it was officially adopted, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it. The Federalists pushed for its adoption, while the Anti-Federalists opposed it. The Constitution emerged from the Constitutional Convention, convened by Congress to address the flaws of the Articles of Confederation, which had proven inadequate in dealing with the issues facing the new nation, including war debts, piracy, and rebellion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the US Constitution was signed | 17 September 1787 |
| Date the US Constitution was adopted | 21 June 1788 |
| Number of delegates who endorsed the US Constitution | 39 |
| Date the new government started operating | 4 March 1789 |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, marking a pivotal moment in the nation's history. This event, which took place in Philadelphia, was the culmination of a convention convened by Congress to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which had proven inadequate in dealing with the challenges facing the fledgling nation. These challenges included war debts, piracy in the Mediterranean, and rural rebellion in Massachusetts.
The signing of the Constitution by 39 delegates endorsed the document crafted during the convention and laid the foundation for a new framework of governance. The document included a declaration stating that the delegates' work had been successfully completed, and those who signed it affirmed their agreement with the final document. The convention's secretary, William Jackson, added a note verifying four amendments made by hand and signed it to authenticate its validity.
However, the signing of the Constitution was just the beginning of the process of establishing the nation's governing document. The Constitution would also need to be ratified by the states, and this proved to be a contentious and challenging endeavour. The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, faced opposition from the Anti-Federalists, who disagreed with the idea of a strong central government and sought to prevent ratification.
The battle for ratification played out across the states, with Pennsylvania serving as a critical early victory for the Federalists. Despite setbacks and fierce resistance in some states, the Federalists gradually gained ground. On February 6, 1788, the Constitution was ratified in New York, and by June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, officially adopting the Constitution and paving the way for the new government to begin operating on March 4, 1789.
The US Constitution, signed on that fateful day in September 1787, set in motion a series of events that would shape the course of American history and establish the framework for the nation's governance that remains in place to this day.
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It was adopted on June 21, 1788
The United States Constitution was born in September 1787, but it was not until June 21, 1788, that it was officially adopted. On this day, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, and the new government officially started operating on March 4, 1789.
The road to the adoption of the Constitution was a long and complex one. The Constitutional Convention, convened by Congress, aimed to address the flaws of the Articles of Confederation, which had proven inadequate in dealing with the challenges facing the new nation, including war debts, piracy, and rebellion. The delegates crafted a new framework for governance, but the battle for ratification in the states was fierce, with Federalists and Anti-Federalists battling for votes.
The Federalists were quick to collect votes, with four small states—Delaware, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut—ratifying the document soon after the convention. Pennsylvania was another critical victory for the Federalists, despite strong opposition from the Anti-Federalists. The Anti-Federalists held enough sway in the state assembly to initially prevent a vote, but the Federalists prevailed, and Pennsylvania ratified the Constitution.
The Anti-Federalists continued their battles in other state conventions, particularly in powerful states such as New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia, where they retained significant support. However, by the time the New Hampshire convention was held in June 1788, the tide had turned in favour of the Federalists. The decision to adopt the Constitution was all but assured, and with New Hampshire's ratification, the Constitution was officially adopted.
The adoption of the Constitution marked a significant turning point in the history of the United States, establishing a new framework for governance and shaping the country's future.
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Nine states were required to ratify it
The United States Constitution was born in September 1787, but it took until 21 June 1788 for the document to be adopted. Nine states were required to ratify it, and on that day, New Hampshire became the ninth state to do so.
The Constitutional Convention, convened by Congress, crafted a new framework for governance. The previous system, the Articles of Confederation, had proven incapable of addressing the problems facing the new nation, including war debts, piracy, and rebellion. The new Constitution aimed to resolve these issues.
The Federalists were quick to collect votes, and four small states—Delaware, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut—soon ratified the document. Pennsylvania was another early victory for the Federalists, though it was not without opposition. Anti-Federalists held enough sway in the state assembly to almost prevent a vote, but the Federalists prevailed, and the vote was cast on 12 December 1787.
The Anti-Federalists continued to battle in other state conventions, particularly in New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia, where they retained significant support. However, the Federalists were able to secure enough votes, and by March 1789, the new government officially started operating.
The signing of the Constitution occurred on 17 September 1787, when 39 delegates endorsed the document. The procedure for amending the Constitution is outlined in Article V, which allows for proposals to be adopted by two-thirds of both houses of Congress or by a national convention requested by two-thirds of the state legislatures.
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New York and Virginia opposed it
The United States Constitution was born in September 1787, but it was not until June 21, 1788, that it was officially adopted. Nine states were required to ratify the Constitution, and on that day, New Hampshire became the critical ninth state to do so.
New York and Virginia, however, opposed the Constitution. In New York, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay published rebuttals to questions and concerns about the proposed government. They teamed up to write a masterful dissection and analysis of the system of government presented in the Constitution. Their intellectual duels, captured in The Federalist Papers, helped flesh out the Constitution's principles and practices. Despite these efforts, ratification in New York remained elusive.
In Virginia, Patrick Henry's passion and eloquence helped stem the tide of Federalist success. The Anti-Federalists retained enormous support in Virginia, as they did in New York and Massachusetts. These were also among the most powerful states, whose support was vital to the strength of the Constitution. The Federalists, concerned about the strength of the Anti-Federalist majority, called for an adjournment of the convention until June 1788. In that time, debates in the press took a toll on the Anti-Federalists, draining public support.
The Constitution was crafted to replace the Articles of Confederation, which had proven incapable of addressing the problems facing the new nation, including war debts, piracy, and rebellion. The new Constitution created a federal republic with a strong central government, but one in which most of the power was left with the state governments. The division of power between the branches of government and between federal and state governments was a contentious issue, along with slavery, trade, taxes, foreign affairs, representation, and the procedure to elect a president.
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The document was crafted in Philadelphia
The United States Constitution was born in September 1787, but it was not until June 21, 1788, that it was officially adopted. The document was crafted in Philadelphia, where delegates convened by Congress met to address the flaws of the Articles of Confederation, which had proven inadequate in dealing with the issues facing the new nation. These issues included war debts, piracy in the Mediterranean, and rebellion in rural Massachusetts.
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia brought together delegates from various states, including those from the South, such as Georgia and South Carolina, who sought to protect the slave trade and slavery in general. The delegates agreed to safeguard the slave trade for 20 years and further entrenched slavery by allowing states to count slaves as part of their populations for representation purposes and requiring the return of escaped slaves.
The document crafted in Philadelphia was the result of a summer of disagreement and compromise. The delegates left Philadelphia with a new framework for governance, but the fight for ratification in the states was just beginning. The Federalists, who supported the new Constitution, faced opposition from the Anti-Federalists, who held sway in several states, including New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia.
The Federalists, however, were able to gather the required number of states to ratify the Constitution. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the critical ninth state to ratify, officially adopting the Constitution and marking the beginning of the new government, which started operating on March 4, 1789. The signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787, had involved 39 delegates who endorsed the document and declared its adoption by the states present.
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Frequently asked questions
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates.
The United States Constitution was adopted on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it.
The process of ratifying the Constitution began on December 12, 1787, when Pennsylvania became the first big victory for the Federalists.
The new government officially started operating on March 4, 1789.
