Ratification of the Constitution: 1787-1788 | Federalists & Anti-Federalists | Federalist Papers

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United States History
Constitutional Period, 1787-1788

The Convention in Philadelphia produced a new Constitution in 1787. In September, the Constitution is ready.

Congress decides to turn the document over to the states. By rules of the Philadelphia Convention, the document will need to be adopted by 9 states for the government to change.

Anti-Federalists pose challenges to ratification. George Mason, Patrick Henry, and Sam Adams oppose ratification at first. In New York, Melancton Smith publishes "Letters from the Federal Farmer," criticizing the Constitution.

However, the Federalists respond. James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton publish the "Federalist Papers" in New York newspapers under the pseudonym "Publius." Madison argues that a united Republic under the Constitution will protect the country from regional or state factions.

Delaware is the first state to ratify the Constitution.
Pennsylvania and New Jersey ratify the Constitution before the end of 1787.

Georgia, Connecticut and Massachusetts ratify the Constitution at the beginning of 1788. Maryland, South Carolina, and New Hampshire adopt the Constitution in spring and early summer, 1788. New Hampshire is the ninth state to ratify the document, meaning that it will become the law of the land.

However, it is socially important to get Virginia and New York to adopt the Constitution because they have large populations. Virginia and New York, with the promise of amendments in the future Constitution, adopt the Constitution.

By the end of 1788, only North Carolina and Rhode Island have not ratified the document.

Congress, at Federal Hall in New York, accepts that a new government will form.

A film by Jeffrey Meyer