Rhode Island was the last of the thirteen original states to ratify the U.S. Constitution, doing so on May 29, 1790.
The Constitution took effect after New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it on June 21, 1788. Several states nevertheless remained outside the new Union’s ratification list for a time. Rhode Island held out because many residents opposed the stronger federal government and feared threats to local autonomy and economic interests.
Rhode Island rejected an initial ratification convention in March 1788. After continued political pressure and the prospect of economic isolation, a convention in Newport approved the Constitution by a narrow vote of 34 to 32 in 1790.
Rhode Island’s late ratification is distinct from its role in the Declaration of Independence era. It was the first colony to renounce allegiance to Britain in 1776, but it became the final original state to join the constitutional system. The state’s delay illustrates that independence from Britain and acceptance of the Constitution were separate political decisions.