The process by which the states officially approved and adopted the United States Constitution. It required at least nine out of thirteen states to ratify the Constitution in order for it to become law.
Related terms
Federalists: Supporters of the ratification of the Constitution who believed in a strong central government.
Anti-Federalists: Opponents of the ratification of the Constitution who were concerned about giving too much power to the central government.
The Federalist Papers: A series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in support of ratifying the Constitution.