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The Constitution of the United States was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it, allowing the Constitution to take effect. The ratification process involved extensive debates and was influenced by key figures like Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, who advocated for a stronger central government.

Until the new Constitution was ratified, the country was governed by the Articles of Confederation. That document was tailored to a newly formed nation made of states acting more like independent, sovereign countries, and it quickly became clear to some of America’s leaders that future stability required a stronger, more centralized government.

New York’s Alexander Hamilton thus led the call for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation’s governing document. The Confederation Congress endorsed his initiative, and representatives from all 13 states were subsequently invited to convene in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787, to participate in the Convention.

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