Article VII

Ratification Requirement

The Constitution would take effect upon ratification by conventions in nine states (out of the original thirteen).

This was a departure from the Articles of Confederation, which required unanimous consent for amendments.

Historical Context

• The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787
• Delaware was the first state to ratify (December 7, 1787)
• New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify (June 21, 1788), making the Constitution effective
• Virginia and New York ratified shortly after, making the new government viable
• North Carolina and Rhode Island ratified after the new government began operating

Significance

Article VII represented a bold step in establishing a new form of government. By requiring only nine states (rather than all thirteen), the Framers acknowledged the practical difficulty of unanimous agreement while still requiring substantial support for this fundamental change in governance.