Virginia Ratifying Convention

Virginia Ratifying Convention was a convention of delegates from Virginia in the United States in 1788. The convention met from June 2 to June 27 in Richmond, Virginia, to debate and decide whether to ratify the Constitution of the United States, which had been drafted the previous year.

Background

The Constitutional Convention took place in Philadelphia in 1787, with the aim of revising the Articles of Confederation. Instead, the convention proposed a new constitution that would give much more power to the central government. This proposal was then sent to the states for ratification.

The Convention

The Virginia Ratifying Convention was called in 1788 to decide whether Virginia should ratify the proposed constitution. The convention was held in Richmond, and was attended by many of the most prominent men of Virginia, including George Washington, James Madison, and Patrick Henry. The debates at the convention were intense and closely followed throughout the country.

Outcome

After several weeks of debate, the convention voted to ratify the constitution by a narrow margin. This decision was crucial, as Virginia was the tenth state to ratify the constitution, providing the minimum number of states required for the constitution to take effect.

Legacy

The Virginia Ratifying Convention is remembered as a critical moment in the founding of the United States. The debates at the convention provided some of the most detailed and thoughtful discussions of the constitution and the nature of the new government. The decision to ratify the constitution was a key step in the establishment of the United States as a federal republic.

See also

• History of the United States Constitution
• Ratification of the United States Constitution by Virginia