Isabella Carter
The US Constitution was first ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve the document. The Constitution was drafted during a four-month convention in Philadelphia, PA, in 1787, and sent to the states for ratification on September 17, 1787. The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The Constitution officially came into effect in 1789, and the first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789. George Washington was elected as the first president, and the new government began on March 4, 1789.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | June 21, 1788 |
| First state to ratify | Delaware |
| Date of first ratification | December 7, 1787 |
| Number of states required to ratify | 9 of 13 |
| Date the Constitution became operational | March 4, 1789 |
| Date the Constitution was first ratified | January 24, 1791 |
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What You'll Learn
- The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787
- The Constitution was ratified by 9 of 13 states by June 21, 1788
- The first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789
- The new government was set to begin on March 4, 1789
- The first ten amendments were ratified on December 15, 1791
The first state to ratify was Delaware on December 7, 1787
The US Constitution was first ratified by Delaware on December 7, 1787. This was the culmination of a four-month Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia, PA, where state delegates wrote the Constitution. It was signed on September 17, 1787, and sent to the states for ratification.
The Constitution was ratified by nine of the 13 states by June 21, 1788, making it the official framework for the government of the United States of America. The nine states were Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and New Hampshire. The Constitution was still evolving, and Madison introduced 17 amendments, of which 12 were sent to the states for ratification.
The first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791. The US Constitution has guided the government, protected the rights of Americans, and inspired democracies worldwide. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789, and became operational in 1789.
The Constitution emerged from the convention to address the problems of a weak central government under the Articles of Confederation. It established a federal government with more specific powers, including conducting relations with foreign governments. The legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the federal government were divided to ensure a system of checks and balances.
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The Constitution was ratified by 9 of 13 states by June 21, 1788
The U.S. Constitution was ratified by 9 of 13 states by June 21, 1788, becoming the official framework for the government of the United States of America. The road to ratification was long and arduous. The country was governed by the Articles of Confederation, which was more suited to a newly formed nation of states acting as independent, sovereign countries. However, it became clear that future stability required a stronger, more centralized government.
Alexander Hamilton led the call for a constitutional convention to reassess the nation's governing document. All 13 states were invited to send representatives to Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, to participate in the convention. After a contentious convention and a lengthy ratification process, the Constitution was finally ratified.
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. Some states opposed the Constitution because it did not provide protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. However, the Massachusetts Compromise of February 1788 stipulated that amendments would be proposed to address these concerns, which became the Bill of Rights.
On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, marking a significant step forward in the establishment of a stronger, more unified American government.
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The first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789
The US Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it. The Constitution had been drafted during a four-month convention in Philadelphia, PA, and signed on September 17, 1787, before being sent to the states for ratification.
Following the ratification, Congress set dates for the first federal elections, which were held from Monday, December 15, 1788, to Saturday, January 10, 1789. These elections were the first to be held under the new Constitution. The first session of the first House of Representatives took place on March 4, 1789, with only thirteen members present. The requisite quorum of thirty members was not reached until April 1, 1789.
The first federal elections were a significant milestone in the formation of the United States government. The elections were held to choose the president, vice president, and members of the House of Representatives. Each state determined its own method of choosing presidential electors, with some states appointing them directly, while others held elections. In these elections, George Washington was unanimously elected as the first president, and John Adams became the first vice president. The elections also determined the makeup of the House of Representatives, with 11 of the 13 original states electing a total of 59 representatives.
The elections were influenced by the political divide between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Federalists, supported by landed families and commercial interests, favoured the ratification of the Constitution, while Anti-Federalists wanted to reject or significantly amend it. This divide influenced the selection of electors and the voting process in the elections. The Federalists ultimately prevailed in these elections, winning majorities in both houses of Congress.
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The new government was set to begin on March 4, 1789
The US Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve the document. This marked the beginning of the US government operating under the Constitution, and the official implementation of the document was set for March 4, 1789.
The first session of the US Congress under the new Constitution was held in New York City on March 4, 1789. This date was chosen as the official handover from the Confederation Congress, which had governed under the Articles of Confederation. The new date symbolised the beginning of a new era under the Constitution and became a traditional mark of transition for the legislative body. From 1789 onwards, March 4 served as the inauguration day for new sessions of Congress and the conclusion of each Congress's two-year term.
However, the transition to the new constitutional government was not without its challenges. Despite the significance of the change, only 22 of the expected 81 members arrived at New York City's Federal Hall, and it took nearly a month to form a quorum to officially commence the government. This low turnout highlighted the logistical difficulties of transitioning between government frameworks and coordinating legislative efforts across the vast geographic landscape of the newly formed republic.
The first Congress of the United States faced several pressing issues, including achieving a quorum to commence official business and addressing the constitutionally-required census. On September 25, 1789, after several months of debate, Congress adopted 10 amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, and sent them to the states for ratification. This action led to the eventual ratification of the Constitution by the last of the 13 original colonies: North Carolina and Rhode Island.
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The first ten amendments were ratified on December 15, 1791
The US Constitution was first ratified on June 21, 1788, when the required nine out of 13 states—Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and New Hampshire—approved the document. However, the Constitution was still evolving. On December 15, 1791, the first ten amendments, also known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified.
The Bill of Rights was born out of the Massachusetts Compromise, which stipulated that amendments would be proposed to address concerns that the Constitution did not provide protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. James Madison introduced 17 amendments to the Constitution, of which Congress adopted 12 on September 25, 1789, to be sent to the states for ratification.
Ten of those amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791, by three-fourths of the state legislatures. They defined citizens' rights in relation to the newly established government under the Constitution. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, speech, and the press, as well as the rights of peaceful assembly and petition. The remaining amendments guarantee the right to form a "well-regulated militia," to keep and bear arms, and the rights to private property, fair treatment for accused criminals, protection from unreasonable search and seizure, freedom from self-incrimination, a speedy and impartial jury trial, and representation by counsel.
The Bill of Rights also includes Articles 10 and 11, which state that excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. The enumeration of certain rights in the Constitution shall not be used to deny or disparage other rights retained by the people. Additionally, powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution or prohibited to the states are reserved for the states or the people.
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Frequently asked questions
The U.S. Constitution was first ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to do so.
Nine of the 13 states were required to ratify the Constitution. All 13 states eventually ratified the Constitution by May 29, 1790.
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
The Constitution came into effect in 1789, and the first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789. George Washington was elected as the first President.
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