Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, but it was not ratified by all 13 colonies until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document. The Constitution required ratification by nine of the 13 colonies to become law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colonies that did not ratify the Constitution | Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia |
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What You'll Learn
Opposition to the Constitution
By January 9, 1788, five states of the nine necessary for ratification had approved the Constitution: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. However, the eventual outcome remained uncertain in pivotal states such as Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia. On February 6, 1788, Massachusetts ratified the Constitution by a vote of 187 to 168, after Federalists agreed to recommend a list of amendments amounting to a bill of rights.
Despite these efforts, as of June 1788, only eight of the 13 colonies had ratified the Constitution. It was not until May 29, 1790, that Rhode Island finally approved the document, and the Bill of Rights was not ratified until the end of the following year.
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The Anti-Federalists
The Anti-Federalist position referred to a philosophy about government, as well as a preferred structure for government and manner in which society ought to be arranged. They were the first in a long line of states' rights advocates. They were opposed by the Federalists, who supported the proposed constitution.
After ratification of the new Constitution and after the Washington administration took office, the Anti-Federalists formed a political party that was the first opposition party within the American political system. The Anti-Federalist Party evolved over time into the Democratic-Republican Party and ultimately into the Democratic Party.
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The Federalist Papers
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. By January 9, 1788, five states of the nine necessary for ratification had approved the Constitution.
The eventual outcome remained uncertain in pivotal states such as Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia. Massachusetts eventually ratified the Constitution by a vote of 187 to 168.
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The Bill of Rights
The US 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 until the end of the following year.
The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 out of 41 delegates present. It was agreed that the document would not be binding until its ratification by nine of the 13 existing states. By January 9, 1788, five states of the nine necessary for ratification had approved the Constitution: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
However, the eventual outcome remained uncertain in pivotal states such as Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia. Massachusetts eventually ratified the Constitution by a vote of 187 to 168, after Federalists agreed to recommend a list of amendments amounting to a bill of rights.
The Anti-Federalists, a group of influential colonial Patriots led by Patrick Henry of Virginia, publicly opposed the new Constitution in town hall meetings, newspapers, and pamphlets. Some argued that the delegates at the Constitutional Convention had overstepped their congressional authority by proposing to replace the Articles of Confederation with an “illegal” document. Others complained that the delegates, being mostly wealthy and “well-born” landowners, had proposed a Constitution and federal government that would serve their special interests and needs.
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The location of the capital
The capital of Rhode Island, the last colony to ratify the Constitution, is Providence. Providence is one of the oldest cities in New England, founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He named the area in honour of "God's merciful Providence" which he believed was responsible for revealing such a haven for him and his followers. The city developed as a busy port, as it is situated at the mouth of the Providence River at the head of Narragansett Bay.
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Frequently asked questions
Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia.
May 29, 1790.
Patrick Henry of Virginia.
They believed that the delegates at the Constitutional Convention had overstepped their authority by proposing to replace the Articles of Confederation with an "illegal" document.
Only eight of 13 colonies had ratified a future United States Constitution.
