what was involved in ratifying the constitution

What had to be done to ratify the Constitution?

Under Article V of the Constitution, there are two ways to propose and ratify amendments to the Constitution. To propose amendments, two-thirds of both houses of Congress can vote to propose an amendment, or two-thirds of the state legislatures can ask Congress to call a national convention to propose amendments.

How many of the 13 states ratified the Constitution?

U.S. Constitution ratified. As dictated by Article VII, the document would not become binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 states. Beginning on December 7, five states—Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut—ratified it in quick succession. Secondly, which state ratified the constitution last? Rhode Island

How did the Constitution eventually get ratified?

On September 25, 1789, the first Congress of the United States adopted 12 amendments to the U.S. Constitution—the Bill of Rights—and sent them to the states for ratification. Ten of these amendments were ratified in 1791. In November 1789, North Carolina became the 12th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

Which states ratify the Constitution?

What 9 states ratified the Constitution?

• Delaware – December 7, 1787.
• Pennsylvania – December 12, 1787.
• New Jersey – December 18, 1787.
• Georgia – January 2, 1788.
• Connecticut – January 9, 1788.
• Massachusetts – February 6, 1788.
• Maryland – April 28, 1788.
• South Carolina – May 23, 1788.

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Who was involved in the ratification of the Constitution?

Hamilton and James Madison led the lobbying efforts for votes in favor of ratifying the Constitution. With assistance from John Jay, they produced the 85 essays known as “The Federalist Papers” that explained and defended how the proposed new government would function.

What were the steps involved in ratifying the Constitution?

Passage by Congress. Proposed amendment language must be approved by a two-thirds vote of both houses.Notification of the states. The national archivist sends notification and materials to the governor of each state.Ratification by three-fourths of the states. ... Tracking state actions. ... Announcement.

What 3 events led to the ratification of the Constitution?

To get the Constitution ratified by all 13 states, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention had to reach several compromises. The three major compromises were the Great Compromise, the Three-Fifths Compromise, and the Electoral College.

What did ratifying the Constitution do?

Aware of the major challenge before them, the framers of the new plan crafted a startling new approach through a ratifying procedure that went directly to the people. By this method, the Constitution would become law if nine of the thirteen states approved it after holding special conventions to consider the issue.

What are the two ways to ratify a constitutional amendment?

To ratify amendments, three-fourths of the state legislatures must approve them, or ratifying conventions in three-fourths of the states must approve them.

Which of the following was first to ratify the Constitution?

On December 7, 1787, Delaware was the first state to vote in favor of, or ratify, it. New Hampshire became the ninth state to accept the Constitution on June 21, 1788, which officially ended government under the Articles of Confederation.

What major events led to the Constitution?

Shay's Rebellion occurred in Massachusetts. Due to the lack of a Federal response to this armed uprising, there were newly energized calls to reevaluate the Articles of Confederation. Further, this rebellion gave strong impetus to the Constitutional Convention, which began in May 1787.

Which of the following was a major factor leading to the ratification of the Constitution?

Which of the following was a major factor leading to the ratification of the Constitution? The Anti-Federalists persuaded the population to support it. George Washington convinced the delegates from Virginia to support it.

What events influenced the Constitution?

The amendments to the Constitution that Congress proposed in 1791 were strongly influenced by state declarations of rights, particularly the Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776, which incorporated a number of the protections of the 1689 English Bill of Rights and Magna Carta.

What was the ratification summary?

Summary. Though accepted by the convention, the Constitution had to be ratified by the people of the United States before it could take effect as the law of the land. The framers devised a system by which special state conventions of popularly elected delegates would be created to ratify the Constitution.

What did federalists do to help ratify the Constitution?

The Federalist Papers were written and published to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution, which was drafted in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787.

Why did people want the Constitution ratified?

For Federalists, the Constitution was required in order to safeguard the liberty and independence that the American Revolution had created. While the Federalists definitely had developed a new political philosophy, they saw their most import role as defending the social gains of the Revolution.

What was the ratification summary?

Summary. Though accepted by the convention, the Constitution had to be ratified by the people of the United States before it could take effect as the law of the land. The framers devised a system by which special state conventions of popularly elected delegates would be created to ratify the Constitution.

Why was it important that all 13 states ratify the Constitution?

Why was it important for all of the states to ratify the Constitution? It is important for all 13 states to ratify the Constitution because if that is done, nobody will be left extremely unhappy. The whole country needs to be willing to work together without too many disagreements.

What did federalists do to help ratify the Constitution?

The Federalist Papers were written and published to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution, which was drafted in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787.

When were the first 10 amendments to the Constitution ratified?

December 15, 1791Note: The following text is a transcription of the first ten amendments to the Constitution in their original form. These amendments were ratified December 15, 1791, and form what is known as the "Bill of Rights."

What were the first steps in ratifying the Constitution?

The first steps in ratifying the new constitution occurred before and during the meeting of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in May 1787. A widespread, uncoordinated campaign took place throughout the country to convince the people that the Articles of Confederation needed to be revised to maintain the Union. David Humphreys of Connecticut wrote to George Washington shortly after the Convention adjourned that “the well-affected have not been wanting in efforts to prepare the minds of the citizens for the favorable reception of whatever might be the result of your Proceedings. . . . Judicious & well-timed publications have great efficacy in ripening the judgment of men.” All of America’s newspapers supported the Convention and encouraged their readers to adopt whatever was proposed. The printers of the Northern Centinel in Lansingburgh, N.Y., admitted that they “conceived it as a duty incumbent on them to prepare the minds of their readers for” the Convention’s proposal. This widespread confidence was generated partially because of the stature of the Convention delegates, particularly George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. Consequently, when the Convention adjourned the American people and their state legislatures had a proclivity to accept the Convention’s recommendations.

When did Congress decide to send the Constitution to the states?

Between September 26 and 28, Congress debated in secret whether it should comply with the wishes of the Convention and send the Constitution to the states asking them to call specially-elected state conventions to consider ratification.

What did the Antifederalists want to indicate?

Antifederalists also wanted to indicate that the ratification process suggested by the Philadelphia Convention violated the amendment procedure provided by the Articles of Confederation and the congressional resolution of February 21, 1787, that called for the Convention only to amend the Articles. Furthermore, the delegates themselves had violated ...

How long did it take to draft the Articles of Confederation?

Seven states ratified the Articles quickly while also submitting proposed amendments to the Articles. Congress rejected all of the proposed amendments. It took three and a half years to ratify the Articles because of the requirement of the unanimous approval of the state legislatures. Between 1781 and 1787, Congress proposed and the states considered half a dozen amendments to the Articles to strengthen the powers of Congress. All of them had the support of a large majority of both the states and the people. But because the Articles required the unanimous ratification of the state legislatures, none of the amendments were adopted. Slim majorities in one or two states opposed the transference of power from the states to Congress. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 were familiar with this decade-long constitutional heritage.

Why did the Federalists send the Constitution to the states without approbation?

But, because they wanted to avoid any indication that there was opposition to the Constitution in Congress, they agreed to send the Constitution to the states without congressional approbation if all debate over the Constitution (including Lee’s bill of rights) would be stricken from Congress’ Journals. Astute politicians, Federalist leaders then included the word “unanimously” in the congressional resolution of September 28, 1787, sending the Constitution to the states with the recommendation that specially-elected conventions be called to ratify the Constitution. When told of the trickery, Washington responded to Madison: “Not everyone has opportunities to peep behind the curtain; and as the multitude often judge from externals, the appearance of unanimity in that body, on this occasion, will be of great importance.”

What did slim majority states oppose?

Slim majorities in one or two states opposed the transference of power from the states to Congress . The delegates to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 were familiar with this decade-long constitutional heritage.

How many states have bicameral legislatures?

Furthermore, eleven states had bicameral legislatures, meaning that two struggles would be necessary to obtain a single state’s adoption. Conventions would also allow prominent men who were not state legislators to participate in the ratification debate.

Which states ratified the Constitution?

In February 1788, a compromise was reached under which Massachusetts and other states would agree to ratify the document with the assurance that amendments would be immediately proposed. The Constitution was thus narrowly ratified in Massachusetts, followed by Maryland and South Carolina. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the document, and it was subsequently agreed that government under the U.S. Constitution would begin on March 4, 1789. In June, Virginia ratified the Constitution, followed by New York in July.

Which state is the ninth and last necessary to ratify the Constitution?

New Hampshire becomes the ninth and last necessary state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, thereby making the document the law of the land. New Hampshire becomes the ninth and last necessary state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, thereby making the document the law of the land. By.

What were the defects in the Articles of Confederation?

By 1786, defects in the post- Revolutionary War Articles of Confederation were apparent, such as the lack of central authority over foreign and domestic commerce. Congress endorsed a plan to draft a new constitution, and on May 25, 1787, the Constitutional Convention convened at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. On September 17, 1787, after three months of debate moderated by convention president George Washington, the new U.S. constitution, which created a strong federal government with an intricate system of checks and balances, was signed by 38 of the 41 delegates present at the conclusion of the convention. As dictated by Article VII, the document would not become binding until it was ratified by nine of the 13 states.

What did Arthur Miller do to the House Committee on Un-American Activities?

Playwright Arthur Miller defies the House Committee on Un-American Activities and refuses to name suspected communists. Miller’s defiance of McCarthyism won him a conviction for contempt of court, which was later reversed by the Supreme Court. His passport had already been denied ...read more

Which colony joined the United States in 1790?

On May 29, 1790, Rhode Island voted by two votes to ratify the document, and the last of the original 13 colonies joined the United States. Today the U.S. Constitution is the oldest written constitution in operation in the world.

Which states ratified the Constitution?

Beginning on December 7, 1787, five states– Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia and Connecticut– ratified the Constitution in quick succession. However, other states, especially Massachusetts, opposed the document, as it failed to reserve un-delegated powers to the states and lacked constitutional protection of basic political rights, such as freedom of speech, religion and the press.

When was the first constitution ratified?

America’s first constitution, the Articles of Confederation, was ratified in 1781, a time when the nation was a loose confederation of states, each operating like independent countries. The national government was comprised of a single legislature, the Congress of the Confederation; there was no president or judicial branch.

How many amendments are there to the Bill of Rights?

The Bill of Rights were 10 amendments guaranteeing basic individual protections, such as freedom of speech and religion, that became part of the Constitution in 1791. To date, there are 27 constitutional amendments.

What was the first document to establish a federal government?

Under America’s first governing document, the Articles of Confederation, the national government was weak and states operated like independent countries. At the 1787 convention, delegates devised a plan for a stronger federal government with three branches—executive, legislative and judicial—along with a system of checks and balances to ensure no single branch would have too much power.

What are the contents of the Constitution?

Contents. The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Articles of Confederation. Forming a More Perfect Union. Debating the Constitution. Ratifying the Constitution. The Bill of Rights. The Constitution Today. The Constitution of the United States established America’s national government and fundamental laws, and guaranteed certain basic rights ...

Why did Patrick Henry refuse to attend the convention?

Virginia’s Patrick Henry (1736-99) was chosen to be a delegate but refused to attend the convention because he didn’t want to give the central government more power, fearing it would endanger the rights of states and individuals.

How many Federalist papers were published?

The 85 essays, known collectively as “The Federalist” (or “The Federalist Papers”), detailed how the new government would work, and were published under the pseudonym Publius (Latin for “public”) in newspapers across the states starting in the fall of 1787.

How to Ratify a Constitutional Amendment

There are two ways to ratify a constitutional amendment. The first way entails an amendment being approved by both houses of Congress. Then, the amendment is sent out to the states for approval. The second way is that an amendment gets approved by state legislatures. This is the short answer, but ratifying an amendment is more complex.

The First Way to Ratify a Constitutional Amendment

The first pathway to ratifying proposed amendments starts in the United States Congress. An amendment must pass the House and Senate by a two-thirds majority vote. Then Congress may send that amendment out to the states to approve or ratify it.

The Second Way to Ratify a Constitutional Amendment

The second way to ratify an amendment is by state constitutional conventions. States first petition Congress for approval and then call these special conventions into session. It requires 34 states to be on board with holding these conventions for this pathway to proceed.

The Only Pathway That Amendments Have Been Approved

To date, no amendment has been approved by the second method. All of the amendments to the Constitution have been ratified by the first approach. Currently, Congress has submitted 33 proposals to the states. 27 have been ratified.

Who is in Charge of Ratifying Amendments to the Constitution?

As specified in Article V of the Constitution, the Archivist of the United States assumes responsibility for the ratification process after Congress proposes an Amendment. This position is head of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). However, many of the actual duties have been passed on to the Director of the Federal Register.

What is an Example of an Amendment that Has Not Been Ratified?

The most notable example of an amendment that was not ratified is the Equal Rights Amendment. This amendment was first proposed way back in 1923 to provide legal equality and prevent discrimination based on sex. In 1972, it passed both houses of Congress and went to the states to be ratified.

Ratifying Amendments

More than 11,000 amendments have been put before Congress in all US history. The first ten amendments, the Bill of Rights, mainly protect individual rights.

Which group agreed to attach the Bill of Rights to the Constitution after ratification?

The Anti-Federalists pointed out that the constitution did not provide the rights that were to be retained by states. The Federalists noted this and agreed to attach the Bill of Rights to the Constitution after ratification. ADVERTISEMENT.

What were the main issues of the ratification debate?

The ratification debate involved the following five issues: centralization of power, the powers granted to the executive branch, the Bill of Rights, the issue of slavery and whether the formation of the constitution was legal. The ratification of the United States Constitution triggered lively debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists.

What was the centralization of power in the ratification debate?

Anti-Federalists were against the new Constitution centralizing the power of the federal government. The Articles of Confederation respected state sovereignty, and the national government had to make requests to state governments when it came to crucial matters.

What did Federalists claim about the checks and balances?

On the other hand, Federalists claimed that the checks and balances that were inherent in the three branches of government would not allow the president to misuse his power. The issue of slavery was also debated.

When did the ratification debate take place?

The ratification debate took place between 1787 and 1788. Most people who contributed to this debate questioned the legality of the Constitution and termed its production as an illegal act.

Why did anti-federalists argue that the President would be too powerful?

They argued that the president would be too powerful because of the veto power granted to him and his role as commander-in-chief.

What did the slaveholders demand?

Slaveholders demanded that each slave be regarded as one whole person, granting slave states electoral powers that exceeded the population of actual voters. The makers of the Constitution had to compromise, for election purposes, and give recognition to each slave as three-fifths of a person.

What did anti-federalists do to the Constitution?

Anti-Federalists noted that the Constitution simply explained the procedures under which the government would function without providing for rights that would be retained by the states. Federalists assuaged their fears by agreeing to attach the Bill of Rights to the end of the Constitution after ratification.

Why were Anti-Federalists appalled by the new constitution?

Anti-Federalists were appalled that the new constitution centralized the power of the federal government. Under the Articles of Confederation, state sovereignty had been respected to such an extent that the national government could only make requests for crucial things, such as money to pay off the war debt left over from the Revolution. Federalists replied that a certain amount of centralization was needed so that the federal government could respond adequately to difficulties the nation faced.

Why did the framers count slaves as one whole person?

Slaveholders had wanted each slave to count as one whole person, giving slave states an electoral power that exceeded their actual population of voters. Northern states feared this potential influence. The framers had compromised and counted each slave as three-fifths of a person for electoral purposes.

What did the Federalists say about the powers of the executive branch?

They claimed that the President of the United States would be too powerful, given his veto power and role as commander-in-chief. Federalists pointed out the checks and balances inherent in the newly created three branches of government and said these would prevent the President from becoming a dictator.

What are the Federalist papers?

The issues contested are outlined and investigated in the Federalist Papers, a collection of letters and essays, often published under pseudonyms, that appeared in various publications after the Constitution was presented to the public. Those in favor of the Constitution are remembered as Federalists, their opponents as Anti-Federalists.

Was the production of the Constitution illegal?

Many of those who contributed to the public debate about the constitution regarded the production of the document as an illegal act. According to some Anti-Federalists, the men sent to the constitutional convention had exceeded the limits of the task originally given them, which was to simply modify the Articles of Confederation.

Preparing The Public For A New Constitution

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The Constitutional Convention Plans A Process of Ratification

The Confederation Congress Considers The New Constitution

The Preamble to The U.S. Constitution

Articles of Confederation

Forming A More Perfect Union

• Beginning on December 7, five statesDelaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticutratified it in quick succession. However, other states, especially Massachusetts, opposed the document, as it failed to reserve undelegated powers to the states and lacked constitutional protection of basic political rights, such as freedom of speech, re...

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Debating The Constitution

Ratifying The Constitution

The Bill of Rights

The Constitution Today