Article VII was written to establish the process for ratifying the Constitution. It required nine states’ approval. The historical background was the need for a unified nation with a strong central government. The Articles of Confederation failed to provide a strong government and a unified nation. The Constitutional Convention in 1787 addressed these issues by drafting a new constitution. Article VII ensured the Constitution’s legitimacy and adoption by the people, creating a more stable and effective government.
Article VII of the US Constitution is extremely short, consisting of only one sentence:
“The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.”
This sentence outlines the process for the ratification of the US Constitution. When the Constitution was drafted in 1787, it had to be ratified by at least nine of the thirteen states in order to go into effect. Article VII specifies that once the Constitution had been ratified by nine states, it would go into effect only in those states that had ratified it. This meant that the new federal government created by the Constitution would only have power over those states that had agreed to it.
What Does Ratifying Mean?
Ratifying means giving formal approval or consent to a legal document or agreement. In the context of the US Constitution, ratifying refers to the process by which the Constitution was formally approved by the states and became the supreme law of the land. Each state held a convention to debate and vote on whether to ratify the Constitution. Once nine of the thirteen states had ratified the Constitution, it was considered to be in effect and the new federal government established under the Constitution began to operate.
Article VII was a critical component of the Constitution, as it established the process by which the new government would be created and implemented. The requirement for nine states to ratify the Constitution before it could take effect ensured that there was widespread support for the new government and prevented it from being imposed on states that did not want it.
The US Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it. On March 4, 1789, the first Congress convened and inaugurated George Washington as the first President, officially establishing the Constitution. Overall, Article VII of the US Constitution is a brief but important section that outlines the ratification process for the Constitution. Its simplicity belies its significance in the creation of the federal government and the establishment of the United States as a nation.
I hope you enjoyed the brief lessons on the document that made the United States Government.