Article VII of the U.S. Constitution required nine states to ratify it for establishment. This rule allowed the new framework of government to take effect among the states approving it.
The Constitutional Convention completed its work in Philadelphia in September 1787. Instead of requiring unanimous approval from all thirteen states, Article VII specified conventions in nine states. This was a major departure from the Articles of Confederation, which generally required agreement from all states for important changes.
Delaware became the first state to ratify, on December 7, 1787. New Hampshire became the ninth on June 21, 1788, making the Constitution operative under the article. Virginia and New York ratified soon afterward, while North Carolina and Rhode Island joined later.
The Constitution’s first government began in 1789, after elections and the inauguration of George Washington. The nine-state rule established constitutional authority, but the country’s political acceptance strengthened as the remaining states eventually joined.