I do not understand the trend of the states who ratified first...?
Deleware
Penn
NJ
Georgia
Conneticut
Massachusetts
Maryland
South Car
New Hamp
VA
NY
Rhode Island
I get why RI was last. But what bothers me is why is new jersey and delaware so far up ahead?
maybe geography plays a role in this??
Why would geography be key in whether or not a state ratified the Constitution?
Mm I really don't get the largestate-smallstate trend as well as the north-south and industrial-agricultural trend to ratifying the constituion...
Note that these states all ratified the Constitution within a space of about 11 months. That's pretty fast for so many different state legislatures to argue, debate, compromise, and adopt it.
http://www.answers.com/topic/ratification-of-the-constitution
The first five ratifications took place in quick succession: Delaware, December 7, 1787 (unanimous); Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787 (46-23); New Jersey, December 18, 1787 (unanimous); Georgia, January 2, 1788 (unanimous); and Connecticut, January 9, 1788 (128-40).
That is what the source said,
maybe my quesiton was unclear:
I wanted to know what caused those 5 states to be the first and why some where unanimous. I do not understand the trend that effects it.
It's rare that any legislative body passes a bill unanimously. The trend was that most legislators in most states jumped on the band wagon because they were eager to ratify the Constitution.
Yes, but why? Economics? Wealth? Location? Size?
My guess is that it was a result of their enthusiasm for a new document to cement the union of the states -- a document that would do a better job than the Articles of Confederation.
Also, they were (for the most part) eager to make this new country work. Remember that, at the time, this was the ONLY country set up to be a democratic republic. The only one!
The order in which states ratified the U.S. Constitution is not necessarily a reflection of their perceived importance or significance. It was primarily influenced by factors such as the timing of each state's convention, the political climate at the time, and the level of popular support for the proposed Constitution within each state.
To better understand why Delaware and New Jersey were among the earliest states to ratify, you can consider a few factors:
1. Small Size and Homogeneity: Delaware and New Jersey were relatively small states with more homogeneous populations compared to larger states like Virginia or New York. Their smaller populations allowed for quicker organization and decision-making during the ratification process.
2. Geographic Proximity: Delaware and New Jersey were located near the epicenter of the ratification debates in Philadelphia, where the Constitutional Convention was held. This geographic proximity likely facilitated open communication, a greater exchange of ideas, and a faster grasp of the proposed Constitution's content.
3. Political Context: In both Delaware and New Jersey, there was generally less opposition to the Constitution compared to other states. The Federalist Papers, a series of influential essays advocating for the ratification of the Constitution, were widely circulated in both states, helping to build public support. Additionally, some influential figures in both states, such as Alexander Hamilton in New Jersey, actively promoted the ratification process.
It is worth noting that the ratification process was not without controversy, and some states required intense debates or compromises before ratification. Ultimately, after nine states ratified, the Constitution went into effect, even if some states, such as Rhode Island, initially chose not to ratify.
Understanding the specific historical context and dynamics of each state during the ratification process can provide further insight into why Delaware and New Jersey were among the early ratifiers.