Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution, which comprises seven articles that define the framework of the federal government, was signed by 38 of 41 delegates on September 17, 1787. However, it was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document. The Constitution became the official framework of the US government on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789, and the new government, with George Washington as President, officially commenced on March 4, 1789. Amendments to the Constitution were proposed and ratified by states, with the Bill of Rights being ratified on December 15, 1791.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the US Constitution was signed | September 17, 1787 |
| First state to ratify the Constitution | Delaware, December 7, 1787 |
| Date the US Constitution was ratified | June 21, 1788 |
| Ninth state to ratify the Constitution | New Hampshire |
| Date the new government officially started | March 4, 1789 |
| Date of the nation's first presidential election | Monday, December 15, 1788 |
| First President | George Washington |
| First Vice President | John Adams |
| Date the last state ratified the Constitution | May 29, 1790, Rhode Island |
| Date the Constitution was amended | December 15, 1791 |
| Date of the constitutionally-required census | March 1, 1790 |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
- Delaware was the first state to ratify it on December 7, 1787
- New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify it on June 21, 1788
- The last state, Rhode Island, ratified the Constitution on May 29, 1790
- The first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
The Convention, which began in May 1787, resulted in the proposal and creation of a new form of government. The Constitution delineates the framework of the federal government, with its first three articles embodying the doctrine of the separation of powers. The legislative branch is described in Article I, the executive branch in Article II, and the judicial branch in Article III.
However, the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787, did not immediately bring it into effect. The document stipulated that it would not be binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 existing states. The process of achieving ratification by the required number of states took time, with the first state, Delaware, ratifying on December 7, 1787, and New Hampshire becoming the critical ninth state to ratify on June 21, 1788.
The date of June 21, 1788, is also significant as it marked the official adoption of the Constitution as the framework of the US government. The new government officially began operating on March 4, 1789, with George Washington as the first president.
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Delaware was the first state to ratify it on December 7, 1787
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 37 to 39 of the original 41 to 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The document was then sent to the states for ratification, with the understanding that it would only become binding once nine of the 13 colonies had ratified it.
Delaware was the first state to ratify the US Constitution on December 7, 1787, less than four months after it was signed. The Delaware Ratifying Convention met on December 3, 1787, and the state ratified the Constitution by a unanimous vote of 30-0. Delaware was admitted as “The First State" on the same day.
Delaware's early ratification was significant as it set a precedent for other states to follow. Connecticut and Georgia soon followed Delaware's lead with almost unanimous votes in 1788. However, the outcome became less certain as leaders in key states such as Virginia, New York, and Massachusetts expressed concerns over the lack of protections for individual rights.
On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, officially ending government under the Articles of Confederation. The government under the US Constitution took effect on March 4, 1789, with George Washington as President and John Adams as Vice President. The last state to ratify the Constitution was Rhode Island, on May 29, 1790.
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New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify it on June 21, 1788
The US Constitution was first signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 or 39 out of 41 or 42 delegates present. However, it was agreed that the document would not be binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 existing states.
New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the US Constitution on June 21, 1788, officially ending government under the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution then became the official framework of the government of the United States of America.
The journey to ratification was a long and arduous process. The country was governed by the Articles of Confederation, which was tailored to a newly formed nation made of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries. It became clear to some of America's leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralized government. New York's Alexander Hamilton led the call for a constitutional convention to re-evaluate the nation's governing document.
The New Hampshire convention opened in Exeter on February 13, 1788, and began a section-by-section discussion of the Constitution. Four issues provoked extensive debate. Anti-Federalists, used to annual elections for members of the state legislature, opposed the two-year and six-year terms for representatives and senators.
Despite the challenges, New Hampshire ratified the Constitution due to the political skills of the Federalist majority. Once the debate subsided, the Constitution earned fast acceptance. Towns celebrated with parades, fireworks, dinners, and toasts. Portsmouth provided free liquor.
After ratification, Congress set dates for the first federal elections and the official implementation of the Constitution. Elections were set to take place from Monday, December 15, 1788, to Saturday, January 10, 1789, and the new government was set to begin on March 4, 1789.
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The last state, Rhode Island, ratified the Constitution on May 29, 1790
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 of the 41 delegates present at the time. However, it was not until May 29, 1790, that the last state, Rhode Island, ratified the Constitution.
The Constitution was the outcome of a convention convened by Congress to address the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation, which had become inadequate for the young nation. The Articles of Confederation had been designed for a newly formed nation of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries. However, it became clear that a stronger, more centralised government was needed to ensure future stability.
The Constitution offered a completely new form of government, with the federal government divided into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress; the executive, consisting of the president and subordinate officers; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The Constitution required ratification by nine of the 13 existing states to come into effect. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, officially adopting the Constitution and ending government under the Articles of Confederation.
Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution, almost two years after New Hampshire's ratification.
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The first federal elections were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789
The first federal elections in the United States were held from December 15, 1788, to January 10, 1789. These elections were held following the adoption of the US Constitution, which occurred when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it on June 21, 1788. The Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation, which had governed the country up until that point.
The process of ratifying the Constitution was long and challenging. The document was signed by 38 out of 41 delegates on September 17, 1787, but it required ratification by nine of the 13 existing states to become binding. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. However, the outcome became less certain as leaders in key states such as Virginia, New York, and Massachusetts expressed concerns about the lack of protections for individual rights.
The first federal elections coincided with the election of George Washington as the first president of the United States. Washington was unanimously elected, and John Adams became the first vice president. These elections were held over a period of several weeks, with each state setting its own date for congressional elections. The new government was officially implemented on March 4, 1789, marking the beginning of the first Congress.
The first session of the House of Representatives took place in Federal Hall, New York City, on March 4, 1789, with only 13 members present. The requisite quorum of 30 members was not reached until April 1, 1789. The first order of business was the election of a Speaker of the House, with Frederick Muhlenberg being elected by a majority vote.
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Frequently asked questions
On this date, the US Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America. New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it.
Delaware became the first state to ratify the US Constitution on this date.
The US Constitution was finally accepted by the delegates on this date. 39 out of 42 delegates present at the convention signed the Constitution.
The US Constitution superseded the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789, and became the supreme law of the United States of America.
The US Constitution was ratified by all states on May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document.
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