A fist fight over freedom
September 20-27, 1787: George Washington: a date with destiny or death?
September 28-October 4, 1787: A mob makes a majority in Pennsylvania
October 5-11, 1787: Washington and Franklin: dupes or a dark conclave of conspiracy?
October 12-18, 1787: Georgia frontier aflame with an Indian-settler war
October 19-25, 1787: Patrick Henry of Virginia fires first anti-Federalist shot
October 26-November 1, 1787: A war of words in the newspapers
November 2-8, 1787: Federalists: villains at home, heroes abroad
November 9-15, 1787: Delaware's drive to be first ratifying state; history as a hammer on the anvil of ratification
November 16-22, 1787: Quarrel over prayer in peaceful Quaker Pennsylvania
November 23-29, 1787: Duel of two documents; a bill of rights as burning bush
November 30-December 6, 1787: Power of the people vs. power of the states in Pennsylvania
December 7-13, 1787: Delaware ratifies first; Pennsylvania settles for second
December 14-20, 1787: New Jersey ratifies in tavern to make it three, offers thirteen toasts and salutes
December 21-27, 1787: Riot in Pennsylvania over ratification; slinging mud over slave issue in other states
December 28, 1787-January 3, 1788: Georgia adds fourth vote for union, vows Indian blood will flow in streets
January 4-10, 1788: Connecticut fifth to ratify; Federalists face crucial test in Massachusetts
January 11-17, 1788: Battleground in Boston for a bill of rights
January 18-24, 1788: Federalists chart new course to avoid shipwreck of Constitution
January 25-31, 1788: Governor Hancock of Massachusetts fronts for Federalists, follows prepared script
February 1-7, 1788: Federalists' bill of rights pledge makes Massachusetts sixth to ratify
February 8-14, 1788: Slavery issue in New Hampshire endangers Federalists' forward motion
February 15-21, 1788: America and France: two revolutions, an ocean apart
February 22-28, 1788: New Hampshire's non-vote: gloom for Federalists, glee for foes
February 29-March 6, 1788: Rhode Island rejects ratifying convention, sets referendum on ratification
March 7-13, 1788: Maryland anti-Federalists fight Federalists' slanders and seedy reputations
March 14-20, 1788: King in new office of president refuted by Federalists
March 21-27, 1788: Rhode Island referendum rejects Constitution; slavery issue simmers under surface
March 28-April 3, 1788: Election results in North Carolina and Virginia warn of possible reefs for Federalists
April 4-10, 1788: Maryland Federalists crush foes in elections; violence and fraud alleged in Pennsylvania
April 11-17, 1788: Federalists in South Carolina sweep elections, sink opposition's hopes for a bill of rights
April 18-24, 1788: Washington uses influence in Maryland to block adjournment; Federalists leave nothing to chance
April 25-May 1, 1788: Maryland seventh state to ratify; bill of rights debated but rejected
May 2-8, 1788: Anti-Federalists sweep New York elections; loss of New York and Virginia seen as death blow
May 5-15, 1788: South Carolina Federalists wine and dine foes; newspapers and post office Federalist monopoly, anti's allege
May 16-22, 1788: A bill of rights or bayonets, vow South Carolina foes of Constitution
May 23-29, 1788: South Carolina eighth to ratify; crucial ninth: Virginia or New Hampshire?
May 30-June 5, 1788: Patrick Henry hurls thunderbolts at Virginia convention, gambles on Mississippi River issue
June 6-12, 1788: Patrick Henry and Edmund Randolph violently clash, hair trigger from pistol duel
June 13-19, 1788: Henry overwhelms convention with oratory, Madison plots promise of bill of rights
June 20-26, 1788: Promise of bill of rights ensures Virginia's ratification by razor-thin margin
June 27-July 3, 1788: New Hampshire ninth state to ratify ahead of Virginia, gives legal life to Constitution
July 4-10, 1788: Philadelphia celebrates ratification with grand procession, gears up for first federal elections
July 11-17, 1788: Violence and secession vowed if New York fails to ratify
July 18-24, 1788: New York anti-Federalists in full retreat; North Carolina foes in full advance
July 25-31, 1788: New York ratifies by three votes after promise of bill of rights
August 1-7, 1788: North Carolina votes neither to accept nor to reject new Constitution
Appendices : 1. American newspapers publishing in 1787-88 ; 2. Chronology of state ratification conventions, 1787-90, and final votes
3. U.S. Constitution of 1787.
