Timeline of drafting and ratification of the United States Constitution


The drafting of the Constitution of the United States began on May 25, 1787, when the Constitutional Convention met for the first time with a quorum at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to revise the Articles of Confederation, and ended on September 17, 1787, the day the Constitution drafted by the convention's delegates to replace the Articles was adopted and signed. The ratification process for the Constitution began that day, and ended when the final state, Rhode Island, ratified it on May 29, 1790. In addition to key events during the Constitutional Convention and afterward while the Constitution was before the states for their ratification, this timeline includes important events that occurred during the run-up to the convention and during the nation's transition from government under the Articles of Confederation to government under the Constitution, and concludes with the unique ratification vote of Vermont, which at the time was a sovereign state outside the Union. The time span covered is, from March 25, 1785 to January 10, 1791.

1785

;March 25 • Maryland–Virginia conference convenes
;March 28 • Maryland–Virginia conference concludes

1786

;January 21 • Conference to address certain defects of the federal government called
;September 11 • Annapolis Convention convenes : Delegates representing Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia meet at George Mann's Tavern in Annapolis, Maryland to discuss ways to facilitate commerce between the states and establish standard rules and regulations. Appointed delegates from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Rhode Island either arrived too late to participate or otherwise did not attend. Four states: Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland and South Carolina, did not appoint delegates.
;September 14 • Annapolis Convention adjourns : The convention report, sent to Congress and the legislatures of the various states, contains a request that another convention be held the following May at Philadelphia to discuss amending the Articles of Confederation.
;November 23 •
;December 4 •
;December 30 •

1787

;January 6 •
;January 17 •
;February 3 •
;February 10 •
;February 21 • Convention to discuss revisions to the Articles of Confederation called
;March 3 •
;March 6 •
;March 8 •
;April 23 •
;May 5 •
;May 14 • Constitutional Convention scheduled to begin
;May 14 •
;May 17 •
;May 25 • Constitutional Convention convenes
;May 29 •
;May 29 •
;May 30 •
;June 15 •
;June 18 •
;July 2 •
;July 12 •
;July 16 •
;July 24 •
;August 6 •
;August 18 •
;August 22 •
;August 25 •
;August 31 •
;September 1–8 •
;September 8 •
;September 12 •
;September 13–14 •
;September 15 •
's 1940 Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States
;September 17 • Constitution signed and convention adjourns
;September 18 • Proposed Constitution published
;September 20 •
;September 27 •
;September 28 •
;October 5 •
;October 8 •
;October 18 •
;October 27 •
;November 20 •
;December 3 •
;December 7 • Ratification
;December 11 •
;December 12 • Ratification
;December 18 • Ratification
;December 18 •
;December 25 •

1788

;January 2 • Ratification
;January 3 •
;January 9 • Ratification
;January 9 •
;February 6 • Ratification
;February 13–22 •
;March 1 •
;March 24 •
;April 10 •
;April 21 •
;April 28 • Ratification
;May 12 •
;May 23 • Ratification
;June 2 •
;June 17 •
;June 18 •
;June 21 • Ratification
;June 21 •
;June 25 • Ratification
;July 2 •
;July 21 – August 2 •
;July 26 • Ratification
;September 13 •
;December 15, 1788 – January 10, 1789 • Presidential election held

1789

;February 4 • Electoral College convenes
, first seat of government of the United States under the Constitution
;March 4 • United States Congress convenes
;April 1 • House of Representatives achieves its first quorum
;April 6 • Senate achieves its first quorum
;April 6 • Electoral votes counted
;April 21 • John Adams assumes vice presidential duties
;April 30 • George Washington assumes presidential duties
;September 25 • Constitutional amendments proposed by Congress
;November 16 •
;November 21 • Ratification

1790

;February 2 • Supreme Court of the United States convenes
;March 1–6 •
;May 24 •
;May 29 • Ratification

1791

;January 6 •
;January 10 • Ratification and application

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