Congress would not be allowed to regulate
the foreign slave trade until 1808. Another
compromise involved the question of how
to count slaves in determining the number
of congressmen a state could have. Slaves
were not considered citizens, and so the
Convention agreed that only three-fifths
of them could be counted.
The delegates agreed that each state
should hold a special convention to dis-
cuss and vote on the Constitution. They
also decided that as soon as nine states
had ratified (approved) the Constitution,
the Constitution would take effect and
they could begin to organize their new
government.Top, campaigning for the Constitution: In 1788, The Massachusetts Centinel featured pillars representing the
states’ progress toward ratification of the Constitution. Here, North Carolina and Rhode Island — the two leaning
pillars — have not yet ratified. Above, drawing depicts the celebration at the Federal Banquet Pavilion in New
York City for those who marched in support of the new Constitution.