1789 November 20

Congratulations New Jersey! First State to Ratify the Bill of Rights

 

New Jersey on this day became the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights secured ratifications from the necessary two-thirds of the states and became a part of the Constitution on December 15, 1791.

Go to December 15, 1941, for the day that President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed Bill of Rights Day.

Constitution Day is celebrated on September 17th of each year. See September 17, 1787.

Read: Akhil Reed Amar, The Bill of Rights: Creation and Reconstruction (2000)

Read: Richard Lubansky, James Madison and the Struggle for the Bill of Rights (2006)

Learn about the Bill of Rights at the Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/billofrights.html

View an original copy of the Bill of Rights: http://www.wdl.org/en/item/2704/zoom/#group=1&page=1&zoom=0.5263&centerX=0.5000&centerY=0.5317

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