9. There was great excitement in the State upon North Carolina's thus failing to join the new government. Political animosities ran high, and renewed efforts were made to overcome the popular objections. The people became restless at the position they were occupying, being thus, with New York and Rhode Island, strangers to the great compact of their sister States. 1789. 10. The new government of the United States went into operation in the Spring of 1789, and General Washington took the oaths of office on March 4th as the first President of the Republic. In November the Legislature and a new Convention both met at Fayetteville, and on the 21st the Constitution of the United States was speedily ratified, and North Carolina was enrolled as a member of the new confederacy, which was to astonish all nations by the vigor of its rule and the splendor and rapidity of its growth as a nation. Before this, however, the first ten amendments to the Constitution had been proposed to the Legislatures of the several States for ratification, thereby allaying the apprehensions that had been felt at Hillsboro the year before. 1790. 11. Two important matters were also settled at this period. The Convention at Hillsboro limited the seat of the State government to some point in Wake county. The capital had been migrating from town to town for nearly the whole period of North Carolina's existence. The Legislature also passed a bill creating the University of North Carolina, and the terms of the Halifax Constitution, as to popular education, were thus first put into some shape of accomplishment. Both of these measures were highly needed. [NOTE--The State Convention of 1788 was commissioned to select a place for the seat of government, which had been migratory since the earliest days of the Carolina colony. The place selected for the capital was the farm of Isaac Hunter, at Wake Court House, or some other place within ten miles of that locality, to be determined by the General Assembly.] QUESTIONS. 1. What question was exciting the people of North Carolina at this period? What was thought of the Confederation? 2. How were the people of the State divided upon this great question? 3. What other party was formed? What were they called, and what powers did they propose to give to the general government? 4. What convention was to meet in 1787? 5. Who were chosen to represent North Carolina in that body? 6. Who was chosen President of the Convention? How was the new Constitution to be submitted to the people? 7. What convention met in Hillsboro in 1788? How did some of the prominent members view the question? 8. What different opinion was held by other leading men? What did the Convention do with the Constitution? 9. What was the effect on the State? What other States also failed to ratify?