How many states are needed to ratify the Constitution?
Asked by: Katelin Hauck Jr. | Last update: February 9, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (42 votes)
What states did not ratify the Constitution?
Two states, North Carolina and Rhode Island, refused to ratify the new plan of government. Those who opposed the adoption of the Constitution were known as the Antifederalists. Many feared centralized power. Many doubted the ability of Americans to sustain a continental republic.
Why did only 9 out of 13 states ratify the Constitution?
Because any combination of nine states (even the nine with the smallest populations) would comprise a majority of American citizens. In other words, even if the five most populous states refused to ratify, the remaining nine still would represent a majority of the people.
Which were the last two states to ratify?
So, by the end of July 1788, 11 states had ratified the new Constitution, including critical states like Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, and New York. Interestingly, the final two states—North Carolina and Rhode Island—wouldn't ratify the Constitution until after the new government was already established.
How many states have to vote in order for the U.S. Constitution to be ratified?
Under Article VII, it was agreed that the document would not be binding until its ratification by nine of the 13 existing states.
Why is the US Constitution so hard to amend? - Peter Paccone
Which state has the most signers to the Constitution?
Which state has the most signers to the Constitution? Pennsylvania. There were 34 delegates to the Continental and Confederation Congress who signed the United States Constitution, eight of whom hailed from Pennsylvania.
What are the 5 requirements to be president?
- Be a natural-born citizen of the United States.
- Be at least 35 years old.
- Have been a resident of the United States for 14 years.
What states didn't ratify the era?
The 15 states whose legislatures did not ratify the Equal Rights Amendment by the 1982 deadline are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, and Virginia.
What was the first state to ratify the Constitution?
Each state was given six months to meet and vote on the proposed Constitution. On December 7, 1787, Delaware was the first state to vote in favor of, or ratify, it.
Who is known as the father of the constitution?
James Madison, America's fourth President (1809-1817), made a major contribution to the ratification of the Constitution by writing The Federalist Papers, along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. In later years, he was referred to as the “Father of the Constitution.”
What was the first state in the United States?
Delaware was one of the Thirteen Colonies that participated in the American Revolution against Great Britain, which established the United States as an independent nation. On December 7, 1787, Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, earning it the nickname "The First State".
Who was the first president under the New Constitution?
In 1789, the first presidential election, George Washington was unanimously elected president of the United States. With 69 electoral votes, Washington won the support of each participating elector. No other president since has come into office with a universal mandate to lead.
Which founding father was not present at the Constitutional Convention?
Those who did not attend included Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Samuel Adams and, John Hancock.
Why didn't Rhode Island go to the Constitutional Convention?
Fearing a shift to a stronger central government, Rhode Island does not send any delegates to the convention.
Who was the fourth president?
James Madison, Founding Father, architect of the Constitution, and fourth President of the United States, was born on March 16, 1751 at his mother's home in Port Conway, Virginia, on the Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg. His parents—Nelly Conway Madison and James Madison, Sr.
Did the Equal Rights Amendment ever pass?
On March 22, 1972, Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment with more than the 2/3rds required. Virginia became the last state necessary to ratify it in 2020 as the 38th state. 27 states have state-level Equal Rights Amendments today.
Which state voted to accept the Constitution by only three votes?
New York ratified the Constitution by a majority of three votes 30 to 27; Massachusetts by 187 to 168; and Virginia by 89 to 79. Q. In the course of ratification, how many amendments were offered by the State conventions? A.
What was the most hotly debated issue with the Constitution?
A central issue at the Convention was whether the federal government or the states would have more power. Many delegates believed that the federal government should be able to overrule state laws, but others feared that a strong federal government would oppress their citizens.
What document was before the Constitution?
The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777. This document served as the United States' first constitution. It was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect.
What states did not ratify women's right to vote?
Alabama and Georgia were the first states to defeat ratification. The governor of Louisiana worked to organize 13 states to resist ratifying the amendment. The Maryland legislature refused to ratify the amendment and attempted to prevent other states from doing so.
What is the 27th amendment in the Constitution?
Amendment Twenty-seven to the Constitution was ratified on May 7, 1992. It forbids any changes to the salary of Congress members from taking effect until the next election concludes.
Which states had the biggest problems ratifying the Constitution?
The Constitution encountered stiff opposition. The vote was 187 to 168 in Massachusetts, 57 to 47 in New Hampshire, 30 to 27 in New York, and 89 to 79 in Virginia. Two states, North Carolina and Rhode Island, refused to ratify the new plan of government.
Which president was not born in the United States?
Every president to date was either a citizen at the adoption of the Constitution in 1789 or born in the United States; of the former group, all except one had two parents with citizenship in what would become the U.S. (Andrew Jackson).
Can the president fire the vice president?
The Constitution of the United States gives Congress the authority to remove the vice president of the United States from office in two separate proceedings. The first one takes place in the House of Representatives, which impeaches the vice president by approving articles of impeachment through a simple majority vote.
Which president has been impeached only to have been acquitted of the charges?
Three presidents have been impeached, although none were convicted: Andrew Johnson in 1868, Bill Clinton in 1998, and Donald Trump twice, in 2019 and 2021.