Which state was the ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution?

The post-Revolutionary War Articles of Confederation were proving to be inadequate for the newly formed country. On May 25, 1787 a Constitutional Convention convened at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA to draft a new constitution, moderated by convention president George Washington. A stronger federal government was needed for such things as foreign and domestic commerce. The thirteen states were very apprehensive of giving up their individual autonomy. After three months of debate a new constitution with an intrinsic system of checks and balances was signed by 38 of the 41 delegates and submitted to the individual states for ratification on September 17, 1787. Article VII stated that nine of the thirteen states were needed for ratification.

Five states ratified the new constitution very quickly. However, the remaining states were concerned about the lack of preserving and protecting basic rights and reserving power to the states. A compromise was reached in February 1788 that if the remaining states would ratify the new constitution amendments would be immediately proposed. New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the constitution on June 21, 1788. It was then agreed that the new government would begin on March 4, 1789. Twelve amendments to the constitution were adopted by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. Ten known as The Bill of Rights were ratified in 1791.