Timeline

1788

Discover what happened in this year with HISTORY’s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.

Jun

21

U.S. Constitution

U.S. Constitution ratified

June 21, 1788: New Hampshire becomes the ninth and last necessary state to ratify the Constitution of the United States, thereby making the document the law of the land.

Signing The US Constitution

The Signing of the Constitution of the United States, with George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson at the Constitutional Convention of 1787; oil painting on canvas by Howard Chandler Christy, 1940. The painting is 20 by 30 feet and hangs in the United States Capitol building. (Photo by GraphicaArtis/Getty Images)

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