September 17, 1787: The Constitutional Convention adjourns.
September 28, 1787: The Confederation Congress agrees to send the Constitution to the states for debate and ratification.
Approximate population of the united States at this time: 4 million.
State Convention ratifying dates and votes:
December 7, 1787: Delaware ratifies. Vote: 30 for, 0 against.
December 12, 1787: Pennsylvania ratifies. Vote: 46 for, 23 against.
December 18, 1787: New Jersey ratifies. Vote: 38 for, 0 against.
January 2, 1788: Georgia ratifies. Vote: 26 for, 0 against.
January 9, 1788: Connecticut ratifies. Vote: 128 for, 40 against.
February 6, 1788: Massachusetts ratifies. Vote: 187 for, 168 against.
March 24, 1788: Rhode Island popular referendum rejects. Vote: 237 for, 2708 against.
April 28, 1788: Maryland ratifies. Vote: 63 for, 11 against.
May 23, 1788: South Carolina ratifies. Vote: 149 for, 73 against.
June 21, 1788: New Hampshire ratifies. Vote: 57 for, 47 against. 9 State minimum requirement for ratification met. Constitution legally goes into effect. 724 for ratification votes cast, 362 against ratification votes cast.
June 25, 1788: Virginia ratifies. Vote: 89 for, 79 against.
July 26, 1788: New York ratifies. Vote: 30 for, 27 against.
August 2, 1788: North Carolina convention adjourns without ratifying by a vote of 185 in favor of adjournment, 84 opposed.
March 4, 1789: First United States Congress convenes.
April 30, 1789: George Washington inaugurated as 1st President of the United States of America.
November 21, 1789: North Carolina ratifies. Vote: 194 for, 77 against.
May 29, 1790: Rhode Island ratifies. Vote: 34 for, 32 against.
for ratification votes from Delaware to New Hampshire, fulfilling the 9 States constitutional requirement to make the Constitution the law of the land.
Total votes: 1,649
1,072 for ratification
577 against ratification