On November 21, 1789, North Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution and joined the Union as the twelfth state. A previous convention in 1788 had refused to ratify, citing concerns about the absence of a bill of rights and the scope of federal power. As amendments guaranteeing individual liberties moved toward adoption, support for the Constitution grew. The second convention voted in favor, bringing North Carolina into the new federal system. Ratification gave the state representation in the new Congress and participation in national decision-making. The move also helped consolidate the young republic in the South.
