How many states were required to ratify the Constitution for it to take effect?

The framers of the Constitution established that for the document to take effect, it required ratification by nine states. This provision was included to ensure that a sufficient level of support existed among the states, promoting stability and acceptance of the new system of government. The choice of nine was significant because it represented a majority of the thirteen states at that time, thereby facilitating a balance between the need for a functional national government and the rights of the individual states.

Ratification by nine states allowed the Constitution to be implemented, enabling the establishment of a federal government that was more robust than the one created under the Articles of Confederation. The framers recognized the necessity of garnering broad support to legitimize this foundational legal framework, which intended to unify the diverse interests of the states under a single government while allowing for the possibility of additional states joining in the future.

The other options represent incorrect numbers of states required for ratification: seven would not have achieved the majority needed, and eleven or thirteen would have overstepped the threshold established by the framers that was intentionally aimed at gathering broader consensus among the states.