This Day In History

June 21, 1788

New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, giving it the necessary support to become the law of the land. The Constitution replaced the weaker Articles of Confederation, creating a stronger federal government with three branches and a system of checks and balances.

This ratification was not just a legal milestone—it was the birth of the American republic as we know it. It reflected the Founders’ effort to balance liberty and order, state and federal power, and individual rights. The document’s endurance and adaptability have made it the cornerstone of American democracy for over two centuries.