Why was the constitution finally ratified?

Answer 1

So we would be our own country and not subject to English rule.

The United States Constitution was created in 1787, four years after the United States secured its independence from Great Britain. The Constitution is the successor to the Articles of Confederation, passed in 1778, and was designed to create a national government strong enough to survive in a dangerous world, and yet protect the rights of states and citizens.On June 7, 1776, a resolution was introduced in the Second Continental Congress declaring the union with Great Britain dissolved, proposing the formation of foreign alliances, and suggesting the drafting of a plan of confederation to be submitted to the respective states. Independence was declared on July 4, 1776; the preparation of a plan of confederation was postponed.

Then followed an arduous process of ratification of the Constitution by specially constituted conventions. The need for only nine states was a controversial decision at the time, since the Articles of Confederation could only be amended by unanimous vote of all the states. Despite this, the new Constitution was ratified by all 13 states.

Three members of the Convention—Madison, Gorham, and King--were also Members of Congress. They proceeded at once to New York, where Congress was in session, to placate the expected opposition. Aware of their vanishing authority, Congress on September 28, after some debate, unanimously decided to submit the Constitution to the States for action. It made no recommendation for or against adoption.[4]

Two parties soon developed, one in opposition (Antifederalists), and one in support (Federalists), of the Constitution, and the Constitution was debated, criticized, and expounded clause by clause. Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, under the name of "Publius," wrote a series of commentaries, now known as the Federalist Papers, in support of the new instrument of government. These commentaries on the Constitution, written during the struggle for ratification, have been frequently cited by the Supreme Court as an authoritative contemporary interpretation of the meaning of its provisions. The closeness and bitterness of the struggle over ratification and the conferring of additional powers on the central government can scarcely be exaggerated. In some States ratification was effected only after a bitter struggle in the State convention itself.

Delaware, on December 7, 1787, became the first State to ratify the new Constitution, the vote being unanimous. Pennsylvania ratified on December 12, 1787, by a vote of 46 to 23 (66.67%), a vote scarcely indicative of the struggle which had taken place in that State. New Jersey ratified on December 19, 1787, and Georgia on January 2, 1788, the vote in both States being unanimous. Connecticut ratified on January 9, 1788; yeas 128, nays 40. (76%). After it was ratified in Connecticut, a bitter debate occurred in Massachusetts. On February 6, 1788, Massachusetts, by a narrow margin of 196 votes in a convention with a membership of 355 (196 Votes – 55%], endorsed the new Constitution, but recommended that a bill of rights be added to protect the States from federal encroachment on individual liberties. Maryland ratified on April 28, 1788; yeas 63 (85%), nays 11. South Carolina ratified on May 23, 1788; yeas 149 (67%), nays 73. On June 21, 1788, by a vote of 57 (55%) to 46, New Hampshire became the ninth State to ratify, but like Massachusetts, it suggested a bill of rights.

By the terms of the Constitution nine States were sufficient for its establishment among the States so ratifying. The advocates of the new Constitution realized, however, that the new Government could not succeed without the addition of New York and Virginia, neither of which had ratified.

Madison, Marshall, and Randolph led the struggle for ratification in Virginia. Virginia was sharply divided. Although George Washington was not present at the Virginia convention, his support for the Constitution influenced the final vote. Opposing ratification in the Richmond, Virginia convention were both George Mason, who had originally supported the Virginia Plan in Philadelphia, and Patrick Henry. The influence of James Madison and Governor Edmund Randolph, arguing for ratification, carried the state legislature on June 25, 1788, by a narrow margin of 10 votes in a convention of 168 members (94 Votes - 55.9%).

In New York an attempt to attach conditions to ratification almost succeeded, but on July 26, 1788, New York ratified, with a recommendation that a bill of rights be appended. The vote was close--yeas 30 (52.6%), nays 27, due largely to Hamilton's forensic abilities and his reaching a few key compromises with moderate anti-Federalists led by Melancton Smith. Opposition to ratification was led by Governor George Clinton.

Eleven States having thus ratified the Constitution, North Carolina added its ratification on November 21, 1789; with 184 (70.4%) advocating it, and 77 (29.6%) against it. Rhode Island did not ratify until May 29, 1790; yeas 34 (51.5%), nays 32.) the Continental Congress--which still functioned at irregular intervals--passed a resolution on September 13, 1788, to put the new Constitution into operation.

Answer 2

9 of the original 13 states decided that ratifying the Constitution and instituting the form of government prescribed therein was a better choice than sticking with the failed system they had previously.

Answer 3

It was the version of the document that the delegates to the Convention could agree on.

Answer 4

because they added a bill of rights?? not sure though