Just as the story of the U.S. Constitution does not begin with its signing by thirty-nine delegates on September 17, 1787, nor does it end at that point either. In order to have the force of law, the new system of government described in the Constitution had to be approved by the Confederation Congress, which was still the legal authority in the United States, and ratified by at least nine of the thirteen states.

The Confederation Congress obliged quickly. On September 20, 1787, it received the Constitution. On September 28, 1787, after only one week of debate, Congress submitted the Constitution to the states for their consideration. Some states responded immediately. The first state to ratify the Constitution, Delaware, did so unanimously on December 7, 1787. Pennsylvania, not unanimously but by a healthy two to one margin, and New Jersey, unanimously, followed suit on December 12 and December 18. Other states...