Meanwhile, however, Virginia, after a long and searching debate, had given her approval by a narrow margin, leaving New York as the next seat of anxiety. In that state the popular vote for the delegates to the convention had been clearly and heavily against ratification. Events finally demonstrated the futility of resistance, and Hamilton by good judgment and masterly arguments was at last able to marshal a majority of thirty to twenty-seven votes in favor of ratification. The great contest was over. All the states, except North Carolina and Rhode Island, had ratified. "The sloop Anarchy," wrote an ebullient journalist, "when last heard from was ashore on Union rocks." =The First Election.=--In the autumn of 1788, elections were held to fill the places in the new government. Public opinion was overwhelmingly in favor of Washington as the first President. Yielding to the importunities of friends, he accepted the post in the spirit of public service. On April 30, 1789, he took the oath of office at Federal Hall in New York City. "Long live George Washington, President of the United States!" cried Chancellor Livingston as soon as the General had kissed the Bible. The cry was caught by the assembled multitude and given back. A new experiment in popular government was launched. =References= M. Farrand, _The Framing of the Constitution of the United States_. P.L. Ford, _Essays on the Constitution of the United States_. _The Federalist_ (in many editions). G. Hunt, _Life of James Madison_. A.C. McLaughlin, _The Confederation and the Constitution_ (American Nation Series). =Questions= 1. Account for the failure of the Articles of Confederation. 2. Explain the domestic difficulties of the individual states. 3. Why did efforts at reform by the Congress come to naught? 4. Narrate the events leading up to the constitutional convention. 5. Who were some of the leading men in the convention? What had been their previous training? 6. State the great problems before the convention. 7. In what respects were the planting and commercial states opposed? What compromises were reached? 8. Show how the "check and balance" system is embodied in our form of government. 9. How did the powers conferred upon the federal government help cure the defects of the Articles of Confederation? 10. In what way did the provisions for ratifying and amending the Constitution depart from the old system? 11. What was the nature of the conflict over ratification? =Research Topics= =English Treatment of American Commerce.=--Callender, _Economic History of the United States_, pp. 210-220. =Financial Condition of the United States.=--Fiske, _Critical Period of American History_, pp. 163-186. =Disordered Commerce.=--Fiske, pp. 134-162. =Selfish Conduct of the States.=--Callender, pp. 185-191. =The Failure of the Confederation.=--Elson, _History of the United States_, pp. 318-326.