On July 26, 1788, after weeks of fierce arguing in a steamy courthouse in the riverside town of Poughkeepsie, the delegates of New York finally took a vote. The tally came back 30 to 27 - yes. New York would join the United States as the 11th state to ratify the brand-new U.S. Constitution. Cannons boomed along the Hudson River, church bells rang, and a parade of cheering citizens marched through the streets of New York City carrying a giant model frigate they had named the 'Hamilton.'
The name on that ship belonged to Alexander Hamilton, a young lawyer who, along with John Jay and James Madison, had written 85 newspaper essays called the Federalist Papers urging New Yorkers to support the Constitution. The arguments worked, but just barely. Many delegates wanted a list of guaranteed rights - freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to a fair trial - added to the Constitution. New York's narrow yes vote came with that demand, which helped lead to the Bill of Rights two years later.
New York was already a major colony with a busy port, but joining the Union helped it explode into one of the most important places in the country. New York City briefly served as America's first capital, where George Washington took his oath as the first president in 1789. Today, New York is home to nearly 20 million people, the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Broadway, and yellow cabs whizzing through Manhattan. From a close vote in a Poughkeepsie courthouse to a global capital of art, food, and business - New York's journey started with 30 brave delegates saying yes.
