What document became the supreme law of the United States after ratification in 1788, a foundation celebrated by America250?

The Constitution of the United States became the nation’s supreme law after ratification in 1788.

Article VII specified that the Constitution would take effect when nine states ratified it. New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify on June 21, 1788, allowing the new governmental system to proceed. The Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation, which had created a weaker union.

The document established the federal government’s three branches: Congress, the presidency, and the federal judiciary. It also defined relationships between the national government and the states and created a process for amendments.

The Constitution was signed in 1787, but signing and ratification were different steps. The Declaration of Independence announced separation from Britain in 1776; it did not create the later federal government. The Federalist Papers supported ratification but were essays, not the governing document itself.