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Article VII
Ratification
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1787-1789
Federalists and Anti-Federalists Debate the Constitution
May 5, 1787
Constitutional Convention Begins
September 17, 1787
Constitution is signed by Convention delegates
December 7, 1787
Delaware is first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution
December 12, 1787
Pennsylvania ratifies the Constitution
December 18, 1787
New Jersey ratifies the Constitution
January 2, 1788
Georgia is fourth state to ratify Constitution
January 8, 1788
Connecticut ratifies the Constitution
February 6, 1788
Massachusetts narrowly ratifies the Constitution
March 24, 1788
Rhode Island votes not to ratify
April 28, 1788
Maryland becomes seventh state to ratify Constitution
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April 28, 1788
Maryland becomes seventh state to ratify Constitution
With a vote of 63 to 11, Maryland ratifies the Constitution. Only two more state ratifications are necessary for the Constitution to go into effect. Maryland sent five delegates to the Constitutional Convention, three of which signed the Constitution.
Luther Martin, one of the state's delegates, was one of the most vocal opponents of the centralized government that the framers proposed. At the Constitutional Convention, he spoke passionately of states' sovereign rights, saying "The States have a right to an equality of representation. This is secured to us by our present Articles of Confederation; we are in possession of this privilege."
Read more on Maryland's delegates to the Constitutional Convention:
Daniel Carroll
Source:National Archives
Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer
Source:National Archives
Luther Martin
Source:National Archives
James McHenry
Source:National Archives
John Francis Mercer
Source:National Archives
May 23, 1788
South Carolina ratifies
June 21, 1788
New Hampshire ratifies, putting Constitution into effect
June 25, 1788
Virginia becomes tenth state to ratify
July 26, 1788
New York barely ratifies the Constitution
September 25, 1789
Congress passes the Bill of Rights, sends to states for ratification
November 21, 1789
North Carolina ratifies
May 29, 1790
Rhode Island narrowly ratifies the Constitution
