1. Ratifying the Constitution

2.  warmly urges Congress to support the Constitution.  The Constitution would “promote the lasting welfare of the country so dear to us all, and secure her freedom and happiness”.  9 out of the 13 states had to ratify, or approve, the Constitution before it would go into effect.

3.  Federalists were supporters of the Constitution.  People who opposed the Constitution were called Antifederalists.

5.  Articles of Confederation made for an extremely weak central government.  Constitution gives the national government the authority to function effectively.  Constitution protects the rights of the individual states.  The Federalist Papers: A series of essays defending the Constitution.

7.  Felt it made the national government too strong.  Argued that the Constitution gave the President too much power.  The Constitution had no bill of rights.  Many states threaten to NOT sign the Constitution without the promise of a bill of rights being added.