The People's U.S. Constitution: Article VII, Ratification

The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.

Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth. In Witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names.

Go Washington - President and deputy from Virginia

New Hampshire - John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman

Massachusetts - Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King

Connecticut - Wm Saml Johnson, Roger Sherman

New York - Alexander Hamilton

New Jersey - Wil Livingston, David Brearley, Wm Paterson, Jona. Dayton

Pensylvania- B Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robt Morris, Geo. Clymer, Thos FitzSimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, Gouv Morris

Delaware - Geo. Read, Gunning Bedford jun, John Dickinson, Richard Bassett, Jaco. Broom

Maryland - James McHenry, Dan of St Tho Jenifer, Danl Carroll

Virginia - John Blair, James Madison Jr.

North Carolina - Wm Blount, Richd Dobbs Spaight, Hu Williamson

South Carolina - J. Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler

Georgia - William Few, Abr Baldwin

Attest: William Jackson, Secretary

OK, so there it is. The framers were done. Now they simply began their new government. You wish! Or actually, the framers or, should I say, the majority wished. Because only 39 of the 55 delegates signed the Constitution. Many Antifederalists opposed the Constitution until the Bill of Rights was added. And even though the general populace demanded a bill of rights, Alexander Hamilton stated "that the Constitution is itself . . . a bill of rights."

Nine of the thirteen states accepted the Constitution and it was ratified into existence as the current law of the land. And even though the Articles of Confederation required a unanimous say by the states, the framers knew that requiring such would take years, as did the AOC before it was ratified; therefore, nine became the magic number. After much debate and passing of time, eventually New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify on June 21, 1788.

It may merely have been the signature of the beloved hero, George Washington that did more for the ratification of the Constitution than anything else. It was new. It was all encompassing. And it came on the heals of one of the bloodiest, hard fought battles this country has ever seen, a long fight against an oppressive monarchy that the colonists were all too familiar with. So the fact that it was not accepted by many and that there were certainly points to iron out should come as no surprise.

"I wish the Constitution which is offered had been made more perfect, but I sincerely believe it is the best that could be obtained at this time; and . . . a constitutional door is opened for amendment hereafter." George Washington

It is odd to note the number of people who think history is clean that, for instance, a war between Britain and the American colonies was proposed and everyone just accepted it, buckled down, and fought. However, like with the ratification of the Constitution, there were those who accepted, opposed, and sat on the fence. Nevertheless, the argument goes on. Ben Franklin said it the best when responding to a question as to whether the Constitution was for a republic or a monarchy: "A republic, if you can keep it." So far, so good. But the battle for the rights of the many rages on.