1. Lesson 13: What Was the Anti-Federalist Position in the Debate about Ratification?  

2. Purpose
The signed Constitution would only become official if ratified by 9 of 13 states. This lesson explains the ratification process and public debate between the Federalists (supported) and Anti-Federalists (opposed).

3. Objectives
Explain why the Anti-Federalists opposed ratifying the Constitution.
Explain the role of Anti-Federalists in proposing a bill of rights.
Identify other contributions their views have made toward interpreting the Constitution.
Evaluate, take and defend a position on the validity and relevance of Anti-Federalist arguments.

4. Terms to Know Anti–Federalists Bill of Rights ratification
Opponents to ratification of the U.S. Constitution who believed that it gave excessive power to the federal government and failed to protect the rights and liberties of the people.
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The Bill of Rights lists many basic rights that the federal government may not interfere with and must protect. Nearly all these rights are now also protected from violation by state governments.
ratification
(1) Formal approval of some formal legal instrument such as a constitution or treaty. (2) In U.S. constitutional history, the approval of the U.S. Constitution in 1788 by the ratifying conventions held in each state, except for Rhode Island, which initially voted the Constitution down by popular referendum.

5. The Ratification Process
Ratifying conventions set up in each state
Sole purpose was to debate and approve/reject the Constitution
Delegates elected by popular vote
9 States needed to ratify Constitution for it to go into effect
Example of Social Contract Theory

6. Debating the Proposed Constitution
As soon as delegates released the proposal, opposition emerged.
Anti-Federalists published objections in newspapers and pamphlets (George Mason, Elbridge Gerry)
Oppositions believed in reasoned discourse to educate citizens
They drew on political philosophy ad history to make arguments.
Americans read and discussed the arguments in their homes, coffeehouses, taverns and public meetings across the nation.

7. Key Elements of Anti-Federalists’ Opposition
Representative gov’t could only work in small communities of people with similar beliefs
In large nations, gov’t no longer reflects wishes of most citizens, resorting to force to maintain authority
National gov’t will reduce power / role of local gov’t
Small, agrarian communities are more likely to have civic virtue than large, diverse nations

8. Anti-Federalists’ Philosophy
Strong national gov’ts needed in large nations have always destroyed republics
Each branch had potential for tyranny
No adequate limit on Congress’ necessary & proper clause
President has unlimited power to grant pardons
National courts could destroy state judicial branches
Gov’t is not truly representative. House of Reps has only 65 members out of 3 million citizens.

9. Bill of Rights Debate National gov’t did not protect rights.
National gov’ts power is so general and vague that it is essentially unlimited.
Nothing keeps gov’t from violating all rights it does not explicitly protect.
State’s bill of rights does not protect against national government.
Bill of Rights would remind people of the principles of our political system.

10. What Was the Federalist Position in the Debate about Ratification?
Lesson 14:    
What Was the Federalist Position in the Debate about Ratification? 

11. Purpose
Those who supported ratification, which created a stronger government, called themselves Federalists.
This lesson describes the arguments and strategies Federalists used to win support for the Constitution.

12. Objectives
Explain the key arguments of the Federalists and the process by which the Constitution was finally ratified.
Evaluate, take, and defend positions on the continuing relevance and validity of the Federalists’ argument.

13. Terms to Know "new science of politics" faction Federalists
James Madison's term in The Federalist for a study of politics utilizing reason, observation, and history that would help the Founders construct a new government on a rational and informed basis.
faction
(1) A small group within a larger group. (2) In its political sense, according to James Madison in Federalist 10, a faction is a "number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united...by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community."  
Federalists
Advocates for a strong central government who urged ratification of the U.S. Constitution. They flourished as a political party in the 1790s under the leadership of Alexander Hamilton. The party disappeared from national politics in  
majority tyranny
A situation in which a majority uses the principle of majority rule but fails to respect the rights and interests of the minority. See also majority rule  
The Federalist
A series of articles written for newspapers urging the adoption of the Constitution and supporting the need for a strong national government.

14. Federalists’ Strategies
Federalists acted quickly so that Ant-Federalists would not have a chance to organize opposition.
Over ten months of debate, Hamilton, Madison, and Jay published Federalist Papers to convince people to support ratification.
They presented Constitution as a well-organized, agreed-upon plan that reflected a “new science of politics.”

15. Federalists’ Response to Fears of a Large Republic
Most Americans agreed that large republics were unsuccessful
Madison creates new theory that factions are greatest danger
Factions promote own self-interest at expense of common good
Majority tyranny could be combated w/ a republic
Large republic’s would reduce large factions
Representatives “refine” public views by filtering out ideas based solely on self-interest.
Large republics would defeat dangers of faction.

16. Federalists’ Central Arguments
Civic virtue alone will not protect people’s rights and promote their welfare.
With many interests and factions in a large republic, none would dominate
Constitution’s organization (Checks & Balances) promote goals of republicanism
Electoral system would ensure
qualified representatives
Complicated system would
prevent factions from serving
own interests at expense of
common good
Difficulty to pass laws was a
good thing

17. Federalists’ Central Arguments
Representation of different interests in the government will protect basic rights
In Legislative Branch, House represents local interests, Senate represents state’s interests
In Executive, President safeguards nation’s interests
In Judicial, Supreme Court ensures good judgments since they are independence of politics, responsible only to Constitution.

18. Ratification’s Success
By June 1788, 9 states voted to ratify.
However, no NY or VA (needed, wealthy & populous)
Federalists agreed to add a Bill of Rights during first Congress, depriving Anti-Fed’s of their most powerful argument.
NC and RI eventually forced to ratify by 1790 or else be treated as foreign nations.