Beginning in the winter of 1787, state conventions began the process of ratification. The Constitution was officially ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire narrowly adopted it with a 57–46 vote. However, it wasn't until late July that it became clear the new union was destined to survive, after Virginia and New York, the two largest states at the time, approved the document. The following is the order of ratification:

• Delaware, December 7, 1787

• Pennsylvania, December 12, 1787

• New Jersey, December 18, 1787

• Georgia, January 2, 1788

• Connecticut, January 9, 1788

• Massachusetts, February 6, 1788

• Maryland, April 28, 1788

• South Carolina, May 23, 1788

• New Hampshire, June 21, 1788

• Virginia, June 25, 1788

• New York, July 26, 1788

• North Carolina, November 21, 1789

• Rhode Island, May 29, 1790

And with that, the United States of America got a fresh start.