1. Ratifying the Constitution
Chapter 5, Section 4
Ratifying the Constitution

2. Federalists and Antifederalists
Favored a strong central government
Favored strong state governments
Encouraged manufacturing and trade
Encouraged agriculture
Supported loose interpretation of the Constitution
Supported strict interpretation of the Constitution
Believed that the wealthy, educated elite should lead the new nation
Believed political power should be in the hands of the people

3. Federalists and Antifederalists
Opposed the Constitution
Believed it gave the central government too much power
Wanted the Constitution to include a section to guarantee individual rights
Many were small farmers and debtors
George Mason, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry

4. Federalists and Antifederalists
Supporters of the Constitution
Believed it offered a favorable balance of power between various political views
Many were wealthy planters, farmers, and lawyers. Others were laborers and craftspeople
Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton

5. Federalists and Antifederalists
Federalists and Antifederalists debated whether the new Constitution should be approved
Gave speeches, printed pamphlets advocating their cause

6. Federalist Papers
A series of essays supporting the Constitution, written anonymously under the name Publius
Actually written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
Attempted to reassure Americans that the new federal government would not overpower the states
Federalist Paper No. 10: James Madison argued that the cultural diversity of America would prevent any one group from gaining too much power

7. Federalist Papers
Only 9 states needed to ratify the Constitution for it to pass
In order to assure national unity, it was necessary for every state to ratify it
Paul Revere
Served on a special committee supporting ratification
Going against many of his Patriot friends, Revere believed that the Constitution sought to preserve individual liberties

8. Federalist Papers Antifederalist Papers December 1787
Rebuttal to Federalist Papers
December 1787
Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution
Constitution went in effect in June of 1788 after New Hampshire became the 9th state to ratify it

9. Federalist Papers
Political leaders of the day knew the importance of support from large states such as Virginia and New York
James Madison was finally able to convince Virginia to ratify the Constitution in mid 1788
Riots against the Constitution occurred in New York
Alexander Hamilton argued convincingly for ratification against Antifederalists
Shortly after Virginia ratified, New York followed
Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the Constitution in May of 1790

10. Bill of Rights
Many states ratified the Constitution on the condition that a bill protecting individual liberties would be added to it
While Antifederalists felt that the Constitution did not protect individual liberties, Federalists felt that no bill need be added
Argued that individual liberties were already protected within the body of the Constitution

11. Bill of Rights
James Madison made a bill of rights priority, encouraging Congress to put one together
The rights would then be added to the Constitution as amendments (official changes)
Article V of the Constitution describes the amendment process, which is intended to reflect the will of the people
Required 2/3 majority in both houses of Congress and ratification of ¾ of the states

12. Bill of Rights
Legislators used many sources when creating the Bill of Rights
English Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, Virginia Declaration of Rights
12 amendments were proposed in September of 1789
The Bill of Rights was ratified by the states in December 1791
10 of the 12 proposed amendments