On April 28, 1788, Maryland ratified the U.S. Constitution, becoming the seventh state to approve the new framework of government. Ratification followed debates over federal power, representation, and individual rights. Maryland’s approval helped build momentum toward the required nine states needed to put the Constitution into effect. Supporters argued that a stronger central government was necessary after the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. Opponents pushed for amendments to protect liberties, which later came in the form of the Bill of Rights. Maryland’s decision was part of the broader process of creating the federal system that still exists today.
