Seems a shame to waste time with this, but since a wrong answer has been given, here is some accurate information. The Articles of Confederation did not apply to the process for ratifying the new Constitution. Article VII of the Constitution says "The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same." Rhode Island didn't bother with a convention, since they were opposed to the whole business, but their legislature at last voted to ratify in order to avoid being left in the cold. They were free not to ratify, and would not have been part of the United States if they had not done so.