USI.10

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=**On a map of** **North America****, identify the first 13 states to ratify the Constitution.**=

**//Focus Question: When did the first 13 states ratify the Constitution?//**
1) **__Delaware__** became the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787. 2) **__Pennsylvania__** ratified the Constitution on December 12, 1787, by 66.67%. 3) **__New Jersey__** ratified the Constitution on December 19, 1787, with a unanimous vote. 4) **__Georgia__** ratified the Constitution on January 2, 1788, with a unanimous vote. 5) **__Connecticut__** ratified the Constitution on January 9, 1788, by 76%. 6) **__Massachusetts__** ratified the Constitution on February 6, 1788, and also recommended a bill of rights. The bill of rights would protect the states from too much federal power or the attack of their individual liberties. 7) **__Maryland__** ratified on April 28, 1788, by 85%. 8) **__South Carolina__** ratified on May 23, 1788, by 67%. 9) **__New Hampshire__** suggested a bill of rights (like Massachusetts) when it ratified the Constitution on June 21, 1788.

Nine states would have been sufficient. The advocates of the Constitution, however, deemed it important that the new government could not stand without New York and Virginia.

10) **__Virginia__** was divided almost down the middle. However, George Washington’s influence urged the ratification on June 25, 1788. 11) **__New York__** 2/3 of the convention was against the Constitution. However, on July 26, 1788, the state ratified but suggested a bill of rights be included. 12) **__North Carolina__** ratified the Constitution on November 21, 1789 by 70.4%. 13) __R**hode Island**__ did not ratify the Constitution until May 29, 1790.

On September 13, 1788, the Continental Congress passed a resolution which put forth the new Constitution for the United States.
 * Image to the right shows George Washington's Inauguration at Federal Hall in New York City **

Documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, 1774 to 1789, Library of Congress

[1] (2007). United States Constitution. In //Wikipedia// [Web]. Retrieved 30 April, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Us_constitution#Drafting_and_ratification_requirements. [2] (2007). History of the United States Constitution. In //Wikipedia// i> [Web]. Retrieved 30 April, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/History_of_the_United_States_Constitution [3] (2007). Philidelphia Convention. In //Wikipedia// [Web]. Retrieved 20 April 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/United_States_Constitutional_Convention.
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