On Jan. 2, 1788, Georgia became the fourth American colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Initially, Georgia was slow to join the revolutionary cause, with the region divided between Loyalists and Patriots. But as news of the Declaration of Independence spread and tensions heightened, driven in part by the British capture of Savannah in 1778, Georgians began rallying behind the fight for independence.
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On Dec. 18, 1787, New Jersey became the third American colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Known as “The Crossroads of the American Revolution” for its more than 100 battles and nearly 300 troop clashes with Great Britain, New Jersey was the site of many of the war’s most pivotal moments, including George Washington’s daring crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas night and subsequent victories at Trenton and Princeton that turned the tide of the war.
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On Dec. 12, 1787, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania became the second American colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Nestled in the middle of the 13 colonies, Pennsylvania earned itself the nickname “The Keystone State” for its pivotal role in holding the early Union together — both economically and politically — during the Revolutionary era.
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Delaware earned itself the nickname “The First State” when, on Dec. 7, 1787, it became the first of the American colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Delaware’s place at the vanguard of this democratic experiment might not have happened at all were it not for a famous midnight horse ride made on July 1, 1776, by Caesar Rodney.
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As we mark America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, CSG is proud to celebrate not only our nation’s founding ideals but the people who bring those ideals to life every day in state capitols and communities across the country. We honor the courage it takes to govern, the creativity to solve problems in new ways and the civility to engage across differences.
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