New York Ratifies Constitution: On This Day, July 26

US Constitution printed for dissemination in New York State, with George WashingAfter the Constitutional Convention adopted the US Constitution in September 1787, the long and contentious road to its ratification began. Each state formed a special convention to vote on ratification. The pressure was on: at a minimum, nine states out of thirteen would have to ratify the document for it to be federally instituted. On July 26, after over a month of intense deliberation, New York became the eleventh state to ratify the Constitution. The final vote was precariously close: 30 voted in favor, and 27 against.

The debate forged a split between the Federalists, who supported ratification, and Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. Both sides could claim a victory: the Constitution was ratified, but with calls for certain protectionswhich would eventually form the first ten amendments, the Bill of Rightsas a condition of ratification. 

Discover more Gilder Lehrman resources on the creation of the US Constitution.