New Jersey was the third state to ratify the Constitution.  William Paterson, one of the chief architects of the document helped organize the ratification convention and was responsible for its quick ratification.  The influence of the New Jersey plan on the final document encouraged many smaller states to ratify the document quickly.  Most small state delegates, although cautiously optimistic, were confident they had helped create a form of government in which they could equally exist with larger states.
    Some delegates and ratification convention members were still apprehensive about the lack of rights gauranteed to the people.  Although no proposes amendments came from New Jersey, by the time the ratification process was finished several states had sent proposed amendments to the first congress. James Madision of Virginia took these reccomendations and created the Bill of Rights.  These first ten amendments have become the cornerstone of citizenship for all Americans and protect Americans from the excesses of government.
 

Bill of Rights (First Ten Amendments)