The Constitution was ratified in June 1788. Which date is correct?

The Constitution was ratified in June 1788. Which date is correct?

• A. September 1787
• B. June 1788
• C. December 1787
• D. March 1789

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that the Constitution needed the approval of nine states to be ratified. The decisive moment came when New Hampshire completed ratification on June 21, 1788, making the document legally binding for the new framework of government. So choosing June 1788 is correct, because that month marks the completion of the nine-state requirement. The signing in September 1787 happened earlier, as the document was drafted and signed but not yet ratified. December 1787 includes the initial round of ratifications by some states, not the total nine. March 1789 is when the new government actually began operating, not when ratification occurred.

The key idea is that the Constitution needed the approval of nine states to be ratified. The decisive moment came when New Hampshire completed ratification on June 21, 1788, making the document legally binding for the new framework of government. So choosing June 1788 is correct, because that month marks the completion of the nine-state requirement. The signing in September 1787 happened earlier, as the document was drafted and signed but not yet ratified. December 1787 includes the initial round of ratifications by some states, not the total nine. March 1789 is when the new government actually began operating, not when ratification occurred.