We the People

1
We the People

• How (and why) the individual States adopted the
  Constitution

2
In September 1787 Congress sent the new
Constitution to the states

• Only nine states needed for Constitution to take
  effect
• Congress told states to hold specially elected
  conventions
• Supporters known as Federalists
• Opponents were Anti-Federalists

3
Delaware

• First state to adopt the Constitution
• Unanimous vote
• Ratified only three months after Constitution
  was completed

4
Pennsylvania

• First of Big Four (others were Massachusetts,
  New York and Virginia)
• Supporters included Benjamin Franklin
• Finally ratified 46-23

5
New Jersey

• Unanimously ratified
• Little recorded dissent
• Delegates felt ratification best answer to
  states economic problems

6
Georgia

• First state in deep South to ratify Constitution
• Ratified quickly because state was facing war
  with Creek Indians

7
Connecticut

• Fifth state to ratify
• Wanted end to high tariffs imposed by neighboring
  states
• Connecticut Compromise had created two-chamber
  Congress

8
Massachusetts

• Opposition led by Samuel Adams and John Hancock
• Ratification came only after resolution calling
  for a Bill of Rights was approved
• This encouraged other states to ratify

9
Maryland

• Last state to approve Articles of Confederation
• Did not recommend amendments
• Vote was 63-11

10
South Carolina

• Submitted a proposal for Bill of Rights
• Second Southern state to ratify
• Vote was 173-49

11
New Hampshire

• Ninth state to ratify
• This put Constitution into effect upon states
  that had already approved it
• Vote was close (57-47)

12
Virginia

• Its proposal served as model for Bill of Rights
• Federalists led by James Madison
• Anti-Federalists included Patrick Henry
• Southern state with the largest population

13
New York

• Supporters led by Alexander Hamilton
• Federalist Papers were written to encourage
  ratification
• Anti-Federalists dominated early debate
• Vote was close, 30-27

14
North Carolina

• Ratification delayed until Bill of Rights was
  proposed
• Did not ratify until after George Washington was
  sworn in as president

15
Rhode Island

• Sent no delegates to the Convention
• Rejected 11 times by legislature
• Finally ratified by convention after other states
  began treating it as a foreign nation