ADOPTION OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION BY THE SEVERAL STATES. The delegates for forming the Constitution, assembled in Philadelphia on the second Monday in May, 1787. George Washington was appointed President of the Convention. After debating the several articles of the Constitution for about four months, it was adopted and signed by all the members then present, on the 17th September. The Constitution was then to be sent out for the approval of each State. A provision was made by the Convention, that the ratification of nine States should be sufficient for the establishment of the new system. It was warmly debated in the State Conventions, but was at length adopted by them all; in some cases with the recommendation of amendments, and in others without amendments. The following table shows the dates of the adoption in each State. Delaware, December 7, 1787. Without amendments. Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787. Without amendments. South Carolina, May 23, 1788. Amendments recommended. New York, July 26, 1788. Amendments recommended. North Carolina, November 21, 1789. Amendments recommended. Ratified by Congress. July 14, 1788. Electors of President appointed on the first Wednesday of January, 1789. Election of President first Wednesday of February, 1789. Constitution went into operation on the first Wednesday of March, 1789. ELECTIONS OF PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. George Washington was unanimously chosen first President, and was inaugurated April 30, 1789. John Adams was chosen first Vice-President. *These elections were according to the old system, in which the highest number of votes made the President, and the next highest the Vice President. *In this case the election went to the House of Representatives, and on the 36th ballot, Mr. Jefferson was chosen President by the votes of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Maryland. Aaron Burr was chosen Vice President. No estimates being made for South Carolina. |