The First Constitution Approver: A Historical Perspective

The United States Constitution, which provides the framework for the US government and the rights of its citizens, was first ratified by Delaware on December 7, 1787. However, it was not until New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution on June 21, 1788, that it became the law of the land. The ratification process was a lengthy and contentious one, with Federalists and Anti-Federalists debating the merits of a strong central government. Ultimately, the Constitution was approved by 11 states, paving the way for a new form of government and shaping the nation's values and principles for years to come.

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The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware

The United States Constitution is one of the longest-lived and most emulated constitutions in the world. The Constitution was signed by 38 delegates on September 17, 1787, and it was agreed that the document would not be binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 existing states. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, by a unanimous vote of 30-0. Delaware was followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut.

The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document, and the Bill of Rights was not ratified to become part of the Constitution until the end of the following year. The first state to have a convention write a constitution after the Declaration of Independence was Delaware. The convention met in August 1776 and approved the new constitution on September 20, 1776. The constitution prohibited the entry of anyone from Africa or other places for the purpose of holding individuals in slavery.

The delegates were sent to Philadelphia with instructions that they could offer amendments to the Articles of Confederation. However, they could not change the one state, one-vote framework for the Articles. Delaware was a very small state in terms of area and population. Despite its small size, it had a large coastline. Delaware's delegates contributed to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, including a proposal that eventually addressed small versus large state representation.

The ratification of the Constitution was a nail-biter. The tide turned in Massachusetts, where the "vote now, amend later" compromise helped secure victory in that state and eventually in the final holdouts. The Federalists, who believed that a strong central government was necessary to face the nation's challenges, needed to convert at least three states. The Anti-Federalists fought hard against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government and lacked a bill of rights.

George Washington was president of the Constitutional Convention

George Washington was a pivotal figure in the founding of the American Republic. He was the commander-in-chief of the American Revolutionary Army and played a crucial role in the struggle to establish a robust national republican government. Washington's concerns for the country's future were evident, and he actively participated in the Constitutional Convention, also known as the Federal Constitutional Convention, which took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 14 to September 17, 1787.

Washington was unanimously elected president of the Constitutional Convention, a gathering of delegates tasked with addressing issues with the Articles of Confederation, which was America's first constitution. The Articles gave the Confederation Congress rule-making and funding powers but lacked enforcement and the ability to regulate commerce or print money, leading to disputes between the states. The Convention's objective was to revise the Articles, but the delegates ultimately crafted a new constitution, creating a powerful central government.

Washington's role as president of the Convention was largely ceremonial and non-partisan. He wore his old military uniform and observed the debates, only occasionally intervening to vote on proposed articles. Washington's opinions were the subject of much speculation, and his support for the Constitution carried significant weight. His letter of September 17, 1787, to the president of Congress, which accompanied the Constitution, emphasised the spirit of amity and mutual concession that went into its creation.

Washington's influence extended beyond the Convention. As the first president of the United States under the new constitution, he played a crucial role in its implementation, such as appointing federal officials and nominating the first members of the Supreme Court. Washington's strong support for the Constitution helped convince many to vote in favour of its ratification. His private letters, such as one to Charles Carter published in the Fredericksburg Virginia Herald, expressed his support for the Constitution and its amendment provision, which allowed for corrections to be made after its implementation.

The first draft of the Constitution was written by Edmund Randolph

The United States Constitution is a historic document that has stood the test of time, serving as the foundation of the country's government and legal system. The journey towards its creation was a challenging and complex process, involving passionate debates and compromises among the nation's leaders. One of the key figures in this endeavour was Edmund Jennings Randolph, a Founding Father of the United States, attorney, and the seventh Governor of Virginia.

Edmund Randolph played a pivotal role in the drafting of the Constitution. As a delegate from Virginia to the Constitutional Convention, he introduced the Virginia Plan, which outlined a new national government. The plan, largely authored by Madison, proposed a three-branch federal government with a strong executive and a two-house legislature, giving significant power to the national government over the states. This proposal sparked intense debates and marked a departure from the system laid out by the Articles of Confederation, America's first attempt at a framework for government.

Randolph was also a member of the Committee of Detail, tasked with the challenging job of converting the Virginia Plan's 15 resolutions into a first draft of the Constitution. This committee, which included representatives from several states, worked diligently to strike a balance between state and federal powers, incorporating elements from the Articles of Confederation and various state constitutions. Despite his crucial contributions, Randolph ultimately refused to sign the final document, as he believed it lacked sufficient checks and balances, and he had concerns about the power of the federal judiciary and the legislature.

In October 1787, Randolph published an account of his objections, expressing his desire for increased protections for individuals. However, he later reversed his position at the Virginia Ratifying Convention in 1788, where he chaired a divided convention. Despite his initial objections, Randolph voted for the ratification of the Constitution, as he did not want Virginia to be left out of the new national government. Thus, while Randolph's name is not among the signatories of the Constitution, his contributions and influence on its creation are significant, and he remains an important figure in the story of the United States' founding.

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The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790

The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 of the 41 delegates present at the Constitutional Convention. The document would not be binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 existing states. The Constitution was first ratified by Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. By January 9, 1788, these five states had approved the Constitution.

New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution on June 21, 1788, making it the law of the land. However, this was not the end of the story. Rhode Island initially turned down the Constitution in a popular referendum on March 24, 1789, and North Carolina also refused to ratify it. It was not until May 29, 1790, that Rhode Island finally approved the document, becoming the thirteenth and final state to ratify the Constitution.

The ratification process was a heated and contentious affair, with Federalists and Anti-Federalists engaging in fierce debates. Federalists, like James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, believed that a strong central government was necessary to prevent the young country from collapsing. On the other hand, Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution's creation of a powerful central government, reminding them of the one they had just overthrown.

The Constitution as it stood in 1790 was still evolving. Madison introduced 17 amendments to the Constitution, of which Congress adopted twelve on September 25, 1789, to send to the states for ratification. Ten of those amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791, becoming an official part of the Constitution.

The Federalists supported the Constitution, Anti-Federalists opposed it

The Federalists and Anti-Federalists were two opposing political factions that emerged during the debate over the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in the late 18th century. The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and George Washington, believed that a strong central government was necessary to address the nation's challenges. They argued that the existing system, the Articles of Confederation, was inadequate and gave state governments too much authority, leading to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade. Hamilton, Madison, and Washington feared that these issues would tear the young country apart.

The Federalists worked tirelessly to gather support for the ratification of the Constitution, which would establish a more powerful central government. They published "The Federalist Papers," a collection of 85 essays that explained and defended how the proposed new government would function. The essays were written by Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay, and they played a crucial role in influencing public opinion and securing the necessary votes for ratification.

On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists, led by Patrick Henry of Virginia, vehemently opposed the ratification of the Constitution. They argued that the strong national government proposed by the Federalists threatened the rights of individuals and the sovereignty of the states. The Anti-Federalists believed that the Constitution, as written, would lead to a powerful presidency that might evolve into a monarchy, resembling the governance of Great Britain that they had just overthrown. They also felt that the Constitution did not adequately protect the interests of small towns, rural areas, and farmers.

The Anti-Federalists fought hard against the ratification of the Constitution, but ultimately, they were unsuccessful in preventing its adoption. However, their influence was significant in shaping the Bill of Rights. The Anti-Federalists believed that the Constitution lacked a bill of rights to protect Americans' civil liberties, and their opposition led to the inclusion of the First Amendment and other amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights.

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