In June of 1788, “anti-rats” and “pro-rats” descended upon Richmond to argue during Virginia’s Ratifying Convention. All eyes were on the Old Dominion, America’s largest, richest and most influential state, with borders stretching to the Mississippi River at the time.

Virginia was home to some of America’s most influential leaders — Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Mason and Wythe. Virginia had been slow to ratify.  Among the 13 states, it would be the 10th to confirm. Leaders in New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island were watching before casting their votes.

At the onset of the Richmond convention, delegates were evenly divided regarding ratification. Some remained to be swayed by the most compelling arguments.

Delegates debated for days in oppressive heat in the Richmond Theater building, which served as Virginia’s temporary state capitol, at the crest of Broad Street overlooking Church Hill. Powerful states’ rights forces lined up against Virginia’s ratification, led by Patrick Henry.

Henry took the floor for hours at a time, attempting to sway indecisive voters with urgent oratory that previewed the modern political filibuster.  As large as some European nations at the time, Virginia prided its independence and feared an over-reaching national government.

Henry advised delegates that slavery, on which Virginia’s economy depended, could be outlawed under a new system. He summed up his views on the ratifying argument: “I smelt a rat.”

James Madison, known as the Father of the Constitution, argued eloquently on the Constitution’s behalf. But at age 37, he was among the younger Founding Fathers. It would take the authority of a more senior leader to sway the crowd in the final round.

In Richmond after days of dispute, all attention turned to elder patriot George Wythe, 62. Wythe had served as a signer of the Declaration of Independence, consequential member of the Continental Congress, speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, influential judge, Virginia attorney general, mentor to Thomas Jefferson, and America’s first and only professor of law at the time.

He had signed the Declaration of Independence with the high hope of a strong nation, a future leader among nations.

The year before, he had traveled to Philadelphia to the national Constitution Convention at his own expense, putting his law practice income on hold. As one of America’s most respected authorities on government and parliamentary procedure, he was quickly chosen to write the rules of the convention. Without standard operating procedures, the assembly could easily have become disorganized.

Delegates from the 13 former colonies convened in Philadelphia from June through September 1787 to debate the form of America’s future government, behind closed doors in humid summer weather. Finally, the Constitution was released to the public on Sept. 17, 1787.

In the Virginia Ratifying Convention nine months later, Wythe was appointed chairman of the Committee of the Whole and presided over acrimonious debate for more than three weeks.  Wearied by arguments, he stepped down from his chair to address the convention, his voice shaking with emotion.

Admired for his integrity and patriotism, the elder statesman commanded the assembly’s full focus. He reminded delegates that the country’s current Articles of Confederation were weak, that the new Constitution provided a way forward, and that it would certainly be strengthened with the promise of a future Bill of Rights as the first 10 amendments. Although Patrick Henry wanted to have the last say, Wythe then called for a vote.

A list of those voting in the affirmative shows that the narrow margin for approval came from Wythe’s former law school students at the College of William & Mary and others affiliated with the college. At the time, this was Virginia’s preeminent institution of higher learning, the second oldest college in America after Harvard.

By a vote of 89 to 79, the decision to ratify prevailed on June 25. New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island followed Virginia’s lead, making ratification unanimous among the United States of America. Two of the decisions in favor were exceedingly narrow: New York by only three votes and Rhode Island by only two.

Oscar Shewmake, former dean of the William & Mary Law School, founded by Wythe, described his contribution: “But for Wythe’s services in the Convention of 1788, Virginia would not have ratified the Constitution of the United States as it stood … The entire course of American history may have been materially changed.”

The Constitution became America’s official governing document in 1789. It has survived as the world’s oldest written constitution.

Historian Suzanne Munson is author of the recently published book about George Wythe’s prodigious teaching legacy, “First in Law, First in Leadership: William & Mary,” from which this account is drawn. She is also the author of a comprehensive George Wythe biography, “Jefferson’s Godfather.” She will have a book signing of “First in Law, First in Leadership” on Oct. 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble in New Town.

In the spring of that year, Williamsburg-area residents gathered at the door of his house on Palace Green with a critical mission. Their goal was to persuade the elder statesman to represent their district in Richmond during Virginia’s Ratification Convention in June. Perhaps some foreshadowed just how decisive that mission would be to the future of the nation.

Wythe was 62 at the time and still grieving the loss of his wife the summer before. He answered a neighbor’s knock on the door and listened as the crowd urged him to make the journey to Richmond on their behalf.

He was already a legend — a leader of the Continental Congress, prophet of the American Revolution, speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, clerk of the House of Burgesses, groundbreaking judge, attorney to George Washington and Virginia’s elite, America’s first professor of law, and the nation’s most influential teacher.

With tears in his eyes, Wythe recognized the honor of their request and accepted the assignment. He would need to leave his home and numerous responsibilities for a number of days. Travel by carriage over rugged roads would be difficult.

America’s eyes were on Virginia. If Virginia, the largest, richest and most influential region in the country, failed to ratify, the Constitution would be a paper tiger. Although nine states had ratified, the requisite number, debate still raged in the remaining — powerful and sizable New York and North Carolina and Rhode Island. Legislators in those areas closely monitored debate in Virginia. If Virginia failed to ratify, others could follow its lead. (A month later, New York ratified, with a margin of only three votes.)

At the convention in Richmond, Wythe was quickly given the key role of chairman of the Committee of the Whole. In this capacity, he oversaw days of acrimonious debate among “pro-rats” and “anti-rats.” Patrick Henry, chief among the Constitution’s opponents, summarized his views: “I smelt a rat.” He took the floor for hours at a time, attempting to sway indecisive voters with urgent oratory that previewed the modern political filibuster. He, George Mason, and numerous other prominent Virginians feared an over-reaching federal government with excessive power over states and individuals.

James Madison, known as the Father of the Constitution, argued eloquently on the Constitution’s behalf. But at age 37, he was among the younger Founding Fathers. It took the authority of senior statesman Wythe to sway the crowd in the final round. He had written the rules for the national Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia the year before and was perhaps America’s most respected authority on government and the law.

Wearied by three weeks of argument, Wythe stepped down from his chair to address the assembly, his voice shaking with emotion. He reminded delegates that the country’s Articles of Confederation, written during a time of war, were weak and inadequate for America’s strong future at home and abroad. A firm union of the states could further freedom, independence and success in the years ahead.

Wythe broke the stalemate with a compromise: If Virginia delegates approved the Constitution in its present form, understanding that it had certain flaws, a future Bill of Rights would be added in the form of amendments. These amendments would protect individual liberties and reserve all powers not specifically granted to the federal government to the states or the people.

Summarizing Wythe’s pivotal role at the convention, William & Mary Law School Dean, the late Oscar Shewmake, observed: “But for Wythe’s services in the Convention of 1788, Virginia would not have ratified the Constitution of the United States as it stood, and the entire course of American history may have been materially changed.”

By a narrow margin of 89 to 79, the decision for ratification prevailed on June 27. New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island followed the Old Dominion’s lead. The Constitution, first issued on Sept. 17, 1787, became America’s official governing document on March 4, 1789.

It has survived as the world’s oldest written constitution.

Suzanne Munson is author of the George Wythe biography, “Jefferson’s Godfather: The Man Behind the Man,” and lectures frequently on the Wythe-Jefferson legacy.