| United States of America |
This article is part of the series: |
| Original text of the Constitution |
|---|
| Preamble Articles of the Constitution |
| Amendments to the Constitution |
| Bill of Rights I · II · III · IV · V VI · VII · VIII · IX · X Subsequent Amendments |
|
Other countries · Law Portal |
Article Seven of the United States Constitution provides how many state ratifications were necessary in order for the Constitution to take effect and how a state could ratify it.
The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.
In 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify, Virginia, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island remained. Virginia was the most populous state and New York was the wealthiest state. The Congress of the Confederation chose March 4, 1789 as the day "for commencing proceedings under the Constitution." Virginia and New York ratified the Constitution before that time, while North Carolina and Rhode Island ratified after the Bill of Rights was submitted to the states for ratification.
The Constitution was ratified by the states in the following order:
| Date | State | Votes | % Approval | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yea | Nay | ||||
| 1 | December 7, 1787 | Delaware | 30 | 0 | 100% |
| 2 | December 12, 1787 | Pennsylvania | 46 | 23 | 67% |
| 3 | December 18, 1787 | New Jersey | 38 | 0 | 100% |
| 4 | January 2, 1788 | Georgia | 26 | 0 | 100% |
| 5 | January 9, 1788 | Connecticut | 128 | 40 | 76% |
| 6 | February 6, 1788 | Massachusetts | 187 | 168 | 53% |
| 7 | April 28, 1788 | Maryland | 63 | 11 | 85% |
| 8 | May 23, 1788 | South Carolina | 149 | 73 | 67% |
| 9 | June 21, 1788 | New Hampshire | 57 | 47 | 55% |
| 10 | June 25, 1788 | Virginia | 89 | 79 | 53% |
| 11 | July 26, 1788 | New York | 30 | 27 | 53% |
| 12 | November 21, 1789 | North Carolina | 194 | 77 | 72% |
| 13 | May 29, 1790 | Rhode Island | 34 | 32 | 52% |