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Ratifying the Constitution
Chapter 5 Section 3
Focus Question:
How did Americans ratify the Constitution, and what are
its basic principles?
The Struggle Over Ratification
• Federalists favor strong government
– George Washington (VA)
– James Madison (VA)
– Alexander Hamilton (NY)
• Antifederalists fear a strong government
– Thomas Jefferson (VA)
– John Hancock (MA)
– Patrick Henry (VA)
HAMILTON
WASHINGTON
MADISON
JEFFERSON
HANCOCK
HENRY
Federalists Favor Strong Government
– They stressed the weaknesses of the Articles.
– They argued that only the proposed
Constitution could remedy these weaknesses.
– They were led by James Madison and
Alexander Hamilton who, along with John
Jay, published a series of essays called The
Federalist.
Antifederalists Fear a Strong Government
• They feared a loss of liberties and
distrusted the absence of a bill of rights.
• They feared concentration of power in a
distant elite, believing instead that power
should remain in democratically elected
state governments.
• Leading Antifederalists included Samuel
Adams, John Hancock, and Patrick Henry.
Farmers Were Antifederalists
• Antifederalists included many farmers.
• They feared the Constitution threatened
state debtor relief laws that rescued many
from foreclosure.
• Farmers also distrusted lawyers,
merchants, and the wealthy, who were
largely Federalists.
The Federalists Gain Support
• The two most trusted Americans George
Washington and Benjamin Franklin
favored ratification.
• Frontiersmen felt a stronger government
provided protection against the Native
Americans and the British in the
Northwest.
• Artisans in the cities and most newspapers
supported ratification as well.
The Federalist Papers
• In Federalist No.10 and Federalist
No. 51,
Madison argued that a strong
national government and the
Constitution’s system of checks
and balances would strengthen
liberty.
• In Federalist No. 78, Hamilton
wrote of the importance of a
judicial branch to protect liberty.
The Federalists pushed for fast
approval.
• By mid-January 1788, five states had
ratified, but nine states were needed.
• Federalists gained the support of
Massachusetts Gov. John Hancock by
hinting he may be picked as the first vice
president.
• When the Federalists agreed to add a bill
of rights, four more states quickly ratified.
Ratification
• While nine states were the minimum, the
two largest states, Virginia and New York,
were necessary for the nation to survive.
• Virginia finally ratified, despite Patrick
Henry’s opposition.
• New York ratified after New York City
threatened to secede from the state.
A New Government
• Congress convened in New York’s Federal
Hall on March 4, 1789
– Elect a first president (George Washington) and vice
president (John Adams).
– Add a Bill of Rights.
• The last two states, Rhode Island and North
Carolina, now reconsidered earlier rejections
and ratified as well, bringing the total to 13
states.
The Bill of Rights
1.
Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
2.
Right to keep and bear arms in order to maintain a well regulated militia.
3.
No quartering of soldiers.
4.
Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.
5.
Due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, double jeopardy
6.
Rights of accused persons, e.g., right to a speedy and public trial.
7.
Right of trial by jury in civil cases.
8.
Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments.
9.
Other rights of the people.
10. Powers reserved to the states.
The Constitution established a
representative government based on six
principles.
• Popular Sovereignty
– The people are the only source of the government’s power
• Limited Government
– The government has only the powers that the Constitution gives it
• Separation of Powers
– Power is divided among three branches of government
• Federalism
– The federal government and state governments share power
• Checks and Balances
– Each branch of government has the power to limit the actions of the
other two
• Representative Government
– Citizens elect representatives to government to make laws.