Malcolm Rivera
New Jersey was the third state to ratify the US Constitution, doing so in 1787. The state's quick ratification was surprising, given that its delegates to the Constitutional Convention had expressed doubt about the earliest draft of the Constitution. The compromise created a bicameral Congress that would take ideas from both the Virginia and the New Jersey Plans. The House of Representatives was to be elected based on the population in a state, while the Senate retained the 'one state, one vote' principle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ratification | 1787 |
| Position in ratification | Third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution |
| Speed of ratification | Quick |
| Reason for speed | Compromise was remarkably successful |
| Previous position | Expressed doubt about the earliest draft of the Constitution |
| Type of government | Bicameral Congress |
| House of Representatives | Elected based on population in a state |
| Senate | Retains the “one state, one vote” principle |
| Number of constitutions | Three |
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What You'll Learn
The Virginia Plan
New Jersey was the third state to ratify the US Constitution, doing so in 1787. This was surprising because New Jersey's delegates had expressed doubt about the earliest draft of the Constitution. The plan was drafted by James Madison and came to be known as the Virginia Plan.
One of the key features of the Virginia Plan was its proposal for a bicameral legislature, which would consist of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives would be elected based on population, with each state having a number of representatives proportional to its population. This would give larger states more power in the legislature.
The Senate, on the other hand, would be composed of an equal number of members from each state, regardless of population. This would give smaller states a stronger voice in the government and protect their interests. The Virginia Plan also included a proposal for a strong executive branch, which would be led by a single executive, known as the President.
The Constitution's Ratification by North Carolina and Rhode Island
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The Great Compromise
New Jersey was the third state to ratify the US Constitution, doing so on 18 December 1787. This was a surprisingly quick ratification, given that the state's delegates had initially expressed doubt about the earliest draft of the Constitution.
The compromise that led to New Jersey's ratification was the creation of a bicameral Congress, which incorporated ideas from both the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. The Virginia Plan, drafted by James Madison, provided for population-based representation in Congress, meaning that large states would have more congressmen. The New Jersey Plan, on the other hand, retained the "one state, one vote" principle, ensuring that small states like New Jersey would have equal representation in the Senate as large states like Virginia. This compromise was essential in ensuring that small states felt they would be treated fairly by the new government, without which they would have been unlikely to ratify the Constitution.
Virginia's Constitution Ratification: A Historical Perspective
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The New Jersey Plan
New Jersey ratified the US Constitution on 18 December 1787, becoming the third state to do so. The state's delegates to the Constitutional Convention had initially expressed doubt about the earliest draft of the Constitution, but New Jersey's ratification convention acted quickly, suggesting that the Convention's compromise was remarkably successful. Small states expected that they would be treated fairly in the new government, and without this confidence, they would have been unlikely to ratify the Constitution at all.
Delaware's Constitution Ratification: The Key Players and Their Legacy
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The state's quick ratification
New Jersey was the third state to ratify the US Constitution, doing so on 18 December 1787. This was a surprisingly quick ratification, given that the state's delegates to the Constitutional Convention had expressed doubt about the earliest draft of the Constitution.
The Convention opened in the summer of 1787, when Governor Edmund Randolph of Virginia submitted an outline of government for the Convention’s consideration. This plan, drafted by James Madison, came to be known as the "Virginia Plan". One aspect of that plan provided for population-based representation in Congress. The New Jersey State Constitution was composed in a span of five days and ratified two days later, on 2 July 1776. Its primary objective was to provide a basic governmental framework that would preempt New Jersey's fall into anarchy. The state constitution reinforces the basic rights found in the United States Constitution, but also contains several unique provisions, such as regulations governing the operation of casinos.
The compromise created a bicameral Congress that would take ideas from both the Virginia and the New Jersey Plans. The House of Representatives was to be elected based on the population in a state, meaning large states would have more congressmen. At the same time, the Senate would retain the “one state, one vote” principle that was so important to the small states. In the Senate, then, a small state like New Jersey would have the same representation as a large state like Virginia.
The Founders' Main Objective Behind Ratifying the Constitution
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The basic governmental framework
New Jersey ratified the US Constitution in 1787, becoming the third state to do so. The state's quick ratification was surprising, given that its delegates to the Constitutional Convention had initially expressed doubt about the earliest draft of the Constitution.
The compromise that led to New Jersey's ratification created a bicameral Congress that took ideas from both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans. The House of Representatives was to be elected based on the population in a state, meaning large states would have more congressmen. At the same time, the Senate retained the "one state, one vote" principle, ensuring that small states like New Jersey would have equal representation as larger states.
The New Jersey State Constitution, composed in five days and ratified two days later, provided a basic governmental framework for the state. Its primary objective was to prevent New Jersey from falling into anarchy during a time of emergency. The state was at war and nearly at civil war, with Patriot and Tory factions plotting and battling each other. The constitution served as the charter document for the state's government for the next 68 years.
In addition to the state constitution, New Jersey has also been governed by three British Royal Charters issued for East Jersey, West Jersey, and united New Jersey while they were still colonies. The first state constitution was adopted on July 2, 1776, shortly before New Jersey ratified the United States Declaration of Independence. The second came into effect in 1844, and the current document was adopted in 1947 and has been amended several times.
John Adams' Stance on Ratifying the Constitution
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Frequently asked questions
New Jersey was in a state of emergency, facing imminent danger of invasion and civil war. The constitution was composed in five days and ratified two days later, providing a basic governmental framework to prevent anarchy.
The primary objective was to provide a basic governmental framework to prevent New Jersey's fall into anarchy.
The small states expected to be treated fairly in the new government. Without this confidence, they would not have ratified the Constitution.
The compromise created a bicameral Congress that would take ideas from both the Virginia and the New Jersey Plans. The House of Representatives was to be elected based on the population in a state, meaning large states would have more congressmen. The Senate would retain the 'one state, one vote' principle, meaning small states would have the same representation as large states.
The current document was adopted in 1947 and has been amended several times. It reinforces the basic rights found in the United States Constitution, but also contains several unique provisions, such as regulations governing the operation of casinos.
