1. Ratification of the Constitution US History Standards: SSUSH5 The student will explain specific events and key ideas that brought about the adoption and implementation of the United States Constitution. b. Evaluate the major arguments of the anti-Federalists and Federalists during the debate on ratification of the Constitution as put forth in The Federalist concerning form of government, factions, checks and balances, and the power of the executive, including the roles of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. d. Analyze how the Bill of Rights serves as a protector of individual and states’ rights.

2. Approving the Constitution 9 of the 13 states had to ratify the Constitution before it could take effect would be decided by the people in special elections in each state – the Constitution Convention knew the states would never agree to a document that lessened their power

3. Federalists vs. Antifederalists Federalists were those who favored ratification of the Constitution and included George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton Federalists favored the new Constitution’s balance of power between the states and the national government Supporters like Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay wrote The Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays defending the Constitution

4. Federalists vs. Antifederalists Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution because it threatened the rights of the states because of the strong central government They also feared the power of the President – Anti- Federalists felt that the Constitution went against the principles of the revolution Federalists argued that the division of power and the system of checks and balances would protect Americans from tyranny Anti-Federalists countered with a long list by possible abuses by a central government including the fear that the government would serve a privileged minority and ignore the rights of the majority They also feared a lack of guarantee of individual rights

6. Why the Federalists Won: 1. many agreed that the Articles of Confederation had serious flaws 2. the Federalists were unified under a single plan – the Constitution 3. the Federalists were a well organized national group 4. the Federalists had the support of George Washington

7. Bill of Rights many were concerned that the new US Constitution did not include a guarantee that the government would protect the rights of people or the states although the Federalists felt that these rights were already guaranteed, they eventually compromised and the first ten amendments were written to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights with these changes, all states ratified the Constitution

8. Amendments many argue that the United States Constitution has remained the oldest Constitution in the world because the ability to make changes was worked in to the original document Changes to the Constitution are known as Amendments