C&E Unit 1
Ratification of the Constitution
Name ___________________________
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia was finished on September 17, 1787. Copies of the Constitution
were then sent to each of the 13 states for their ratification. Each of the 13 states then held conventions to decide on
ratification of the Constitution. Delegates in each state were sent to conventions to vote on whether or not their state
would ratify or vote for the Constitution to be the new law of the land, replacing the Articles of Confederation.
Look at your census data from the Constitutional Convention seminar. From this list, which states would
have favored the New Jersey plan? Why?
STATE
Date of Ratification
For
Against
Delaware
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Georgia
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Maryland
South Carolina
New Hampshire
Virginia
New York
North Carolina
Rhode Island
12/7/1787
12/12/1787
12/18/1787
1/2/1788
1/4/1788
2/6/1788
4/28/1788
5/23/1788
6/21/1788
6/25/1788
7/26/1788
11/21/1789
6/7/1790
30
46
38
26
128
187
63
149
57
89
30
195
34
0
23
0
0
40
168
11
73
47
79
27
77
32
The cartoon, “The Federal Edifice,” was published August 2, 1788, by the Massachusetts Centinel.
Words to Look For:
Latin meaning “Return the Age of Saturn”
Of Saturn, the Roman mythological god of agriculture whose reign was
called the golden age
Amythical figure who represent the U.S., always in the form of a woman,
named after Christopher Columbus
Redeunt Saturnia Regna
Saturnian
Columbia
Note: When you read newspapers and pamphlets from the 18th century America, notice that the small or lowercase
s looks like an f. In the first line of the poem, it reads, “ELEVEN STARS, in quick succession rise-“ not ELEVEN
STARS, in quick fucceffion rife.
The Federal Edifice
Eleven stars, in quick succession riseEleven Columns strike our wond’ring eyes,
Soon o’er the whole, shall swell the beauteous dome,
Columbia’s boast –and Freedom’s hallowed home.
Here shall the arts in glorious splendor shine!
And agriculture give her shores divine!
Commerce refin’d dispense us more than gold,
And this new world, teach wisdom to the oldReligion here shall fix her blast abode,
Array’d in mildness, like its parent God!
Justice and law, shall endless peace maintain,
And the “saturnian age,” return again.
Study the cartoon and answer the questions.
1. What does each of the pillars represent?
2. What is the significance to the order of the pillars?
3. Explain how the cartoon uses metaphor.
4. Who is Columbia?
5. What is Saturnian Age?
6. List five things that the poem predicts will happen if all 13 pillars are erected?
7. Is the cartoonist in favor or against ratification of the Constitution? Explain your answer.
8. Which two states had the closest vote on ratification?
9. Which three states ratified the Constitution by unanimous vote?
10. How many states did it take for the ratification of the Constitution?
C&E Unit 1
Ratification of the Constitution
Name ___________________________
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia was finished on September 17, 1787. Copies of the Constitution
were then sent to each of the 13 states for their ratification. Each of the 13 states then held conventions to decide on
ratification of the Constitution. Delegates in each state were sent to conventions to vote on whether or not their state
would ratify or vote for the Constitution to be the new law of the land, replacing the Articles of Confederation.
The cartoon, “The Federal Edifice,” was published August 2, 1788, by the Massachusetts Centinel.
1. What do the pillars represent?
2. What is the significance of the order of the pillars?
3. What do the falling pillars represent?