Delaware was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, doing so in 1787.
Delaware’s convention unanimously approved ratification on December 7, 1787. Because it acted before the other states, Delaware is popularly known as “The First State.” The nickname reflects its place at the start of the constitutional ratification sequence.
Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify, followed by New Jersey. The Constitution required approval by nine states to take effect among the ratifying states, a threshold reached in June 1788 when New Hampshire ratified.
This event belongs to the constitutional era that followed the Declaration of Independence. America250 focuses on the 1776 independence milestone, but understanding Delaware’s ratification helps connect the Declaration to the later creation of the federal government.