After the failure of the Articles of Confederation, which was the first governmental framework for the newly formed United States of America, the Continental Congress drafted the United States Constitution in 1787. The Constitution was then sent to the states for approval, and within the first few months, nine states signed it. Initially, North Carolina rejected the newly drafted U.S. Constitution, but it later voted to ratify the document on November 21, 1789, officially becoming the 12th state to join the Union. 

Initial Rejection

Despite the Articles of Confederation’s ineffectiveness due to a weak government structure, many citizens still feared a strong central government. Having experienced the overreach of British rule, they sought protection from government power and wanted the new structure to prioritize individual freedoms. 

After the U.S. Constitution was presented to the states, North Carolina held a convention in 1788 to vote on its approval. In a move known as the “Great Refusal,” North Carolina rejected the proposal. 

Many North Carolina citizens were Anti-Federalists, meaning they strongly opposed the proposed Constitution. They believed that the new government would be too powerful and feared it could become tyrannical. Their concerns were particularly focused on the absence of a Bill of Rights to safeguard individual and state freedoms, specifically. 

North Carolina’s Proposal 

Although the delegates from North Carolina refused to sign the Constitution in its original form, they did propose amendments to the document. They suggested including a “Declaration of Rights and Amendments” that would list demands to limit federal powers, as outlined in the draft, and to protect individual liberties. 

North Carolina’s amendments encompassed the freedoms of speech and religion, the right to a fair trial, and the right to a jury of peers. North Carolina’s refusal to sign the Constitution until these amendments were added played a crucial role in the creation of the Bill of Rights, as they insisted on these changes before agreeing to ratify the document.

The 12th State

North Carolina’s pressure on Congress worked. A Bill of Rights was officially proposed and sent to the states for ratification in October 1789. On November 21, 1789, North Carolina formally voted to ratify the United States Constitution, becoming the 12th state to join the Union. 

North Carolina’s “Great Refusal” significantly impacted history and secured civil liberties for everyone for centuries.