Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution was ratified by all thirteen colonies by May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island became the final state to approve the document. The journey to ratification was long and arduous, with several states voicing opposition to the Constitution on the grounds that it did not provide adequate protection for certain rights. The Constitution was officially adopted as the framework of the United States government when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it on June 21, 1788.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Ratification | May 29, 1790 |
| State | Rhode Island |
| Position | Last of the 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution |
| Reason for Delay | Concerns over federal power and sovereignty |
| Participation in Constitutional Convention | Did not send delegates |
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What You'll Learn
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware
The United States Constitution was first signed by 37 of the original 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. The document was then sent to the states for ratification, and it was agreed that it would become binding once nine of the 13 colonies had ratified it.
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, doing so on December 7, 1787. All 30 delegates to the Delaware Constitutional Convention unanimously agreed to ratify the document. Delaware's political factions all favoured the new constitution, and there was no opposition to it in the state.
Delaware's example was important in influencing other states to follow suit. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut ratified the Constitution after Delaware, and on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to do so, making federal democracy the law of the land.
The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process. The country had previously been governed by the Articles of Confederation, which gave a lot of political power to individual states and made the national government less important. It was clear to many of America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralized government.
The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
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Rhode Island was the last state to ratify
The United States Constitution was signed by 38 out of 41 delegates on September 17, 1787. Under Article VII, it was agreed that the document would not be binding until ratified by nine of the 13 existing states. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, and New Hampshire became the ninth state to accept it on June 21, 1788, officially ending government under the Articles of Confederation.
However, it was not until May 29, 1790, that the last state, Rhode Island, ratified the Constitution, making it the thirteenth state to join the new union. The delay in Rhode Island's ratification was partly due to the ongoing debates between Federalists, who supported a strong central government, and Anti-Federalists, who opposed such centralization and feared overreach by the federal authority. Rhode Island's wariness of the new constitutional form of government was so pronounced that it did not send delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. This cautious approach meant that Rhode Island initially did not participate in the Constitutional Convention and delayed joining the newly formed government.
Rhode Island's reluctance to ratify the Constitution stemmed from concerns about federal power and the potential loss of state sovereignty. This small state was particularly wary of the implications of a stronger central government. Rhode Island's eventual decision to ratify the Constitution was a crucial step in achieving unanimous acceptance of the new Constitution among all thirteen states.
Rhode Island's ratification allowed it to be a part of the United States, which had already begun to operate with eleven ratified states. The first presidential election was held from Monday, December 15, 1788, to Saturday, January 10, 1789, and the new government was set to begin on March 4, 1789. In this election, George Washington was elected President and John Adams was elected Vice President.
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Ratification required nine states
The United States Constitution was drafted and signed by 38 out of 41 delegates at the Philadelphia Convention on September 17, 1787. Under Article VII, it was agreed that the document would only become binding once it had been ratified by nine of the 13 existing states.
The Founding Fathers had to convince the states to vote in favour of the Constitution. Each state was given six months to meet and vote on the proposed Constitution. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787. New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution on June 21, 1788, officially ending government under the Articles of Confederation.
The road to ratification was long and arduous. The country was governed by the Articles of Confederation, which gave most of the power to the state governments, leaving the central government weak. It soon became clear to America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralized government.
The last state to ratify the Constitution was Rhode Island on May 29, 1790. Rhode Island was wary of the new constitutional form of government and did not send delegates to the Constitutional Convention. Rhode Island's reluctance stemmed from concerns about federal power and the potential loss of state sovereignty.
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The Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791
The United States Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America. The journey to ratification was long and arduous. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787. However, it was not until May 29, 1790, that the last state, Rhode Island, finally ratified the Constitution.
The Bill of Rights, comprising ten amendments, was ratified on December 15, 1791. The Bill of Rights was born out of the Massachusetts Compromise, which was reached in February 1788. The Compromise stipulated that amendments would be proposed to protect rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. Madison introduced 17 amendments to the Constitution, of which Congress adopted twelve on September 25, 1789, to send to the states for ratification. The Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791, becoming part of the Constitution.
The ratification of the Constitution was a significant step in the formation of the United States of America. The Articles of Confederation, which had been in effect since 1781, created a loose confederation of sovereign states with a weak central government. However, the weaknesses of the Articles became apparent, and it became clear that a stronger, more centralized government was needed. The Constitutional Convention was convened in 1787, and the new Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787. The ratification process involved debates across the eastern seaboard, with states needing to vote in favor of the Constitution for it to be accepted.
Rhode Island's eventual ratification of the Constitution was crucial in achieving unanimous acceptance among all thirteen states. Rhode Island had initially been reluctant to ratify due to concerns over federal power and sovereignty. This cautious approach meant that Rhode Island did not send delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. However, with Rhode Island's ratification in 1790, the United States took a significant step forward in establishing a stronger and more unified nation.
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The Constitution was ratified in 1788
The United States Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The Constitution then became the official framework of the government of the United States of America.
The road to ratification was long and challenging. The country had previously been governed by the Articles of Confederation, which were adopted on November 15, 1777, but the states did not ratify them until March 1, 1781. The Articles created a loose confederation of sovereign states and a weak central government, leaving most of the power with the state governments.
It became clear to America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralized government. Alexander Hamilton led the call for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation's governing document. The convention was held in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, with representatives from all 13 states in attendance. The convention's original purpose was to amend the Articles of Confederation, but the delegates ultimately proposed and created a new form of government.
The new Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 of the 41 delegates present. It was agreed that the document would not be binding until ratified by nine of the 13 states. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.
By June 1788, only eight of the 13 colonies had ratified the Constitution. However, with New Hampshire's ratification, the Constitution officially superseded the Articles of Confederation. Congress then set dates for the first federal elections and the official implementation of the Constitution. In the first presidential election, George Washington was elected President, and John Adams became Vice President.
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Frequently asked questions
Rhode Island was the last of the thirteen colonies to ratify the Constitution, finally doing so on May 29, 1790.
Rhode Island was wary of the new constitutional form of government and did not send delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The state was concerned about federal power and the potential loss of state sovereignty.
Nine states needed to ratify the Constitution for it to be accepted.
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787.
