U.S. Constitution Ratified
June 21, 1788 · Early Modern
Article VII required nine of thirteen states to ratify the Constitution through specially elected conventions. Delaware ratified first on December 7, 1787. Supporters Hamilton, Madison, and Jay published 85 Federalist Papers defending the proposed framework, while opponents demanded protections for individual liberties. The Massachusetts Compromise of February 1788 broke the deadlock by promising immediate amendments — later becoming the Bill of Rights. New Hampshire's ratification on June 21, 1788, met the nine-state threshold, formally establishing the new constitutional government.
Key Figures
George WashingtonJames MadisonAlexander HamiltonJohn Jay
Locations
New York CityPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaNew Hampshire
Topics
propertyfederal governmentlawunited statesUS Constitution
Connected Events — 7 Connections
The constitutional framework Tocqueville traveled to study in 1831 — federalism, judicial review, local self-governance — provided the direct subject matter of Democracy in America Democracy in America
Article I, Section 9 specifically permitted Congress to ban slave importation after 1808, making this ban constitutionally mandated rather than merely politically possible - the Constitution created a 20-year countdown timer to this moment Congress bans import of slaves
Created the constitutional framework that Anti-Federalists demanded be amended with explicit individual rights protections, directly necessitating the Bill of Rights as a condition for ratification U.S. Bill of Rights Ratified
The Constitution Article III created the Supreme Court whose powers Marbury v. Madison defined through judicial review of the Judiciary Act of 1789 Marbury v. Madison Supreme Court Case
Washington's military experience at Jumonville Glen and subsequent French and Indian War leadership established his reputation and credibility, making him the unanimous choice to preside over the Constitutional Convention that produced this Constitution Jumonville Glen Incident
The Treaty's recognition of American independence and establishment of territorial boundaries created the sovereign nation-state that required the Constitution for internal governance, with Jay contributing to both the treaty negotiations and Federalist Papers Treaty of Paris
Established the practical governmental framework to implement the Declaration's abstract principles of popular sovereignty and consent of the governed into a functioning federal system Declaration of Independence Adopted
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