Why did new york massachusetts virginia and rhode island wait so long to ratify the constitution

They wanted to add the Bill of Rights.

Explanation:

These states refused to ratify the U.S. Constitution because they considered that it failed to reserve delegated power to the States, lacked protection to the basic political rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and press. In February of 1788, these states signed a compromise under which they would ratify the Constitution with the assurance that amendments were immediately proposed.

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