Delaware becomes the First State

On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the United States Constitution, earning the nickname "The First State" that it carries to this day. By a unanimous vote of all 30 delegates gathered at the Delaware Constitutional Convention, the small mid-Atlantic colony transformed itself into the foundational building block of a new nation. No other state acted faster, no other vote was more decisive, and the significance of Delaware's ratification extended far beyond a simple procedural milestone — it set the entire process of American constitutional government into motion.

Background: The Road to Ratification

Following the drafting of the United States Constitution at the Philadelphia Convention in the summer of 1787, the document required ratification by at least nine of the thirteen original states before it could take effect. Each state was called upon to convene its own ratification convention, where elected delegates would debate and ultimately vote on whether to accept or reject the proposed framework for a new federal government.

Delaware was among the first states to organize its convention, reflecting a sense of urgency and, ultimately, strong support among its political leadership for the new constitutional order. The state had long recognized its precarious position as a small state situated between larger, more populous neighbors. The Constitution's design — particularly the structure of the Senate, which granted each state equal representation regardless of population — offered Delaware protections that had not existed under the Articles of Confederation. This structural feature made ratification an appealing prospect for Delaware's delegates, who understood that a stronger federal union, built on equal state representation in at least one legislative chamber, would give smaller states like Delaware a meaningful voice in national affairs.

The decision to convene quickly and ratify without significant delay was therefore not simply a matter of enthusiasm or speed for its own sake. It reflected a considered political judgment about what the Constitution offered to a state of Delaware's size and circumstances.

The Delaware Constitutional Convention

The Delaware Constitutional Convention assembled in Dover, the state capital, in early December 1787. Thirty delegates had been chosen to represent the people of Delaware in this critical deliberation. Unlike the conventions held in some other states, where ratification was contested and the outcome uncertain, the Delaware convention proceeded with remarkable cohesion and speed.

On December 7, 1787, after their deliberations concluded, all 30 delegates voted in favor of ratifying the Constitution. The vote was unanimous — not a single delegate dissented. This unanimity was a powerful statement of collective resolve and stood in sharp contrast to the often contentious debates that ratification conventions in larger states such as Virginia and New York would later produce.

The speed and unanimity of Delaware's ratification sent an early and encouraging signal to proponents of the Constitution across the country. It demonstrated that the document could command genuine, undivided support from a state's entire delegation of chosen representatives — a powerful precedent as the ratification campaign moved forward in other states.

The Significance of Being First

Delaware's status as the first state to ratify the Constitution is more than a historical footnote. It placed Delaware at the very origin point of the constitutional republic that would eventually grow into the United States of America. By acting first, Delaware formally initiated the ratification process, creating the legal and political momentum that would be needed to bring additional states into the fold.

The unanimity of the vote also matters. A contentious or narrow victory might have suggested that even Delaware — the first mover — harbored serious doubts about the new system. Instead, a 30-to-0 result projected confidence and solidarity, reinforcing the case that the Constitution was a sound and workable plan of government.

Delaware's quick ratification also ensured that the state would be present at the founding moment of the new constitutional order rather than standing apart from it or dragging its feet. For a small state keenly aware of the need for federal protection and equal representation, being an early and enthusiastic participant in the constitutional project was a strategic as much as a patriotic act.

"The First State": Delaware's Enduring Nickname

The legacy of December 7, 1787, lives on in Delaware's most recognized nickname. Delaware is officially known as "The First State" in direct reference to its distinction as the first of the thirteen original states to ratify the U.S. Constitution. This nickname appears on state government materials, license plates, and in the countless references to Delaware in historical and educational contexts across the country.

The nickname carries both pride and precision. Unlike many state nicknames that are metaphorical or aspirational, "The First State" is a straightforward statement of historical fact. Delaware was first, and that fact is beyond dispute.

The Delaware Historical Society recognizes this distinction as one of the defining features of the state's identity, noting that Delaware's ratification of the U.S. Constitution is what led directly to the "First State" designation that defines the state's place in the national story.

Delaware in the Context of the Thirteen Original States

To fully appreciate Delaware's ratification, it helps to consider the broader picture of the thirteen original states and their varied approaches to the Constitution. Some states ratified quickly and enthusiastically. Others took months of debate and required promises of future amendments — what would become the Bill of Rights — before agreeing to ratify. A few states held out until the new government was already operational.

Delaware stood at the beginning of this long chain of ratifications. After Delaware, other states followed in sequence — some rapidly, others after protracted debate — until the required nine states had ratified, allowing the new constitutional government to be established. Delaware's early action helped establish the ratification process as a viable, achievable goal rather than an uncertain political experiment.

The small size of Delaware, often cited as a potential vulnerability in a larger republic, ultimately proved to be an asset in the ratification context. With fewer delegates, a smaller geographic area, and a more homogenous political leadership, Delaware was able to act with a speed and unity that larger, more internally divided states could not match.

Delaware's Place in American Constitutional History

The ratification of the Constitution by Delaware on December 7, 1787, represents among the most consequential acts in American political history. It was the first concrete step in the formal adoption of the constitutional framework that continues to govern the United States more than two centuries later. Every amendment, every Supreme Court decision, every act of Congress, and every presidential administration has operated within a constitutional order that Delaware was the first to formally sanction.

This is the deeper meaning of the "First State" nickname. Delaware did not simply win a race to ratify. It participated in a foundational act of national self-governance and did so with a decisiveness — unanimous consent, rapid action, clear deliberation — that has become part of the state's historical character.

The date itself, December 7, is embedded in Delaware's civic calendar and collective memory. It marks not just a vote taken in a convention room in Dover more than 230 years ago, but the moment a small state on the Atlantic coast took its place at the origin of American constitutional democracy.

Legacy and Modern Recognition

Today, Delaware continues to acknowledge and celebrate its status as the first state to ratify the Constitution. The "First State" identity is woven into state branding, educational curricula, and civic culture. Delaware's official state government website prominently notes the December 7, 1787 ratification as the origin of the state's famous nickname.

Historians, educators, and civic organizations across the country point to Delaware's ratification as a critical moment in the broader story of American nation-building. The Mystic Stamp Discovery Center, among others, has highlighted that Delaware's rapid ratification was not simply a matter of moving quickly but reflected a genuine and considered embrace of the constitutional framework being proposed.

The Delaware State Flag and other official state symbols reflect the pride that Delawareans have long taken in their state's unique position in American history. The state's connection to the founding era extends beyond ratification — Delaware has a rich colonial and Revolutionary War history — but it is the ratification vote of December 7, 1787 that remains the single most prominent milestone in the state's historical identity.

For students of American history, Delaware offers an important lesson: the size of a state does not determine the magnitude of its contribution to the national story. Delaware, small in area and population relative to many of its neighbors, made one of the largest single contributions to the establishment of American constitutional government by stepping forward first, acting unanimously, and setting the ratification process into motion.

See Also

• United States Constitution
• Articles of Confederation
• Dover, Delaware
• Delaware State Flag
• Thirteen Colonies