Ratification of the Constitution
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787. The vote was unanimous, 30-0. Pennsylvania followed on December 12 and New Jersey ratified on December 18, also in a unanimous vote. The Constitution went into effect by the summer of 1788 after the following states had ratified the Constitution: Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, and New York.
On August 2, 1788, North Carolina refused to ratify the Constitution without amendments, but relented and ratified it a year later. North Carolina was not the only state that wanted amendments. New York and Virginia ratified the Constitution under the condition that a Bill of Rights be added. On September 26, 1789, Congress sent a list of twelve amendments to the states for ratification. Ten of the amendments would become the Bill of Rights.
Congress of Confederation and the Constitution
The signing of the Constitution of the United States.
North Carolina ratified the Constitution in November of 1789, followed by Rhode Island in May 1790. Vermont became the last state to ratify the Constitution on January 10, 1791.
The Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights was enacted on December 15, 1791. Here is a summary of the ten amendments ratified on that day:
- Amendment 1: Establishes freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and petition.
- Amendment 2: Establishes the right to keep and bear arms.
- Amendment 3: Bans the forced quartering of soldiers.
- Amendment 4: Interdiction of unreasonable searches and seizures; a search warrant is required to search persons or property.
- Amendment 5: Details the concepts of indictments, due process, self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and rules for eminent domain.
- Amendment 6: Establishes rights to a fair and speedy public trial, to a notice of accusations, to confront the accuser, to subpoenas, and to counsel.
- Amendment 7: Provides for the right to trial by jury in civil cases.
- Amendment 8: Bans cruel and unusual punishment, and excessive fines or bail.
- Amendment 9: Lists unremunerated rights.
- Amendment 10: Limits the powers of the federal government to only those specifically granted by the constitution.