University of Wisconsin Center for the Study of the American Constitution, New Hampshire Convention Vote on the Constitution

New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, making it the law of the land. However, ratification did not come easily in New Hampshire, and required two sessions of the state's ratifying convention. The first session was at Exeter (shown on the map) in February 1788, but when the Federalists realized they would not have enough votes to pass, they convinced the Convention to adjourn and meet again, the next time at Concord (also shown on the map) in June. The Convention narrowly voted in favor of ratification, 57 to 47, on June 21, 1788, only after incorporating twelve amendments to guard against too much power in the central government.