By Convention of Delaware 7th December, 1787 ” ” Pennsylvania 12th December, 1787 ” ” New Jersey 18th December, 1787 ” ” Georgia 2d January, 1788 ” ” Connecticut 9th January, 1788 ” ” Massachusetts 6th February, 1788 ” ” Maryland 28th April, 1788 ” ” South Carolina 3rd May, 1788 ” ” New Hampshire 21st June, 1788 ” ” Virginia 26th June, 1788 ” ” New York 26th July, 1788 ” ” North Carolina 21st November, 1789 ” ” Rhode Island 29th May, 1790 As shown above, two years passed before it was finally ratified by all the States. Both the delay and the final unanimity in its acceptance, giving testimony to the prudence and thoughtfulness of the people. Electors of President and Vice-President were chosen in the winter of 1788-1789. March 4th had been appointed as the time for the government to go into operation, but a delay in assembling the members of Congress deferred the inauguration of Washington, as first President, until April 30th. Congress immediately organized the new government, and, in conjunction with the President, appointed the necessary officers. Some minor provisions were added or changed by the first Congress in the manner provided by the Constitution itself, that is, by a two-thirds vote in both Houses, and ratification by three-fourths of the States. Ten amendments were made at this time. The eleventh amendment was added in 1794. The twelfth in 1803. The thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amendments have been added since 1863. A resolution to amend is passed by the requisite majorities in both Houses, sent to the legislatures of the States, and, when three-fourths of them have approved it, the Secretary of State causes the resolution and amendment to be published in all the States and Territories, and it becomes valid as part of the Constitution. Containing the wisest provisions of English law, it rejects all that is not in harmony with our circumstances, and our fundamental doctrine that all men have equal rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This it keeps continually in view, and, by the sense of dignity and worth which it tends to promote in the humblest man, gradually educates him up to the standard necessary for a free citizen, and, by its respect for the rights of all, tends to induce in each the same disposition. The wisest men of the Republic, by infusing into this document their own self-respect, and respect for others, gave tone and direction to all the future. Their own _characters_ were so far imparted to their work as to exert a salutary influence on the destiny of the people whose fundamental law they compiled.