Listen Carefully
Read Aloud
The Constitution, written in 1787, created a new
system of U.S. government—the same system we
have today. James Madison was the main writer of
the Constitution. He became the fourth president of
the United States. The U.S. Constitution is short, but
it defines the principles of government and the rights
of citizens in the United States. The document has a
preamble and seven articles. Since its adoption, the
Constitution has been amended (changed) 27 times.
Three-fourths of the states (9 of the original 13)
were required to ratify (approve) the Constitution.
Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution
on December 7, 1787. In 1788, New Hampshire was
the ninth state to ratify the Constitution. On March 4,
1789, the Constitution took effect and Congress met
for the first time. George Washington was inaugurated
as president the same year. By 1790, all 13 states had
ratified the Constitution.
