Download Ratification of the Constitution

Ratification of the Constitution
Federalists vs. Antifederalists
Aka liberals vs. conservatives
Sound familiar?
Question: Why was the new Constitution controversial?
Answer:
• Did not have the power to make a
new constitution but they did it
anyway. “Extra-legal act”
• Congress (legislature) had too much
power (could make any law
“necessary or proper”).
• President’s powers were too broad
and vague (too wide and not
specific)
• Fear of government power (British)
• No Bill of Rights = threatened states
and people
Many people (conservatives)
could not get what the king
and parliament had done out
of their minds. To them this
government was like nuclear
government power!
Question: What was the side for the constitution?
Answer:
• Federalists: for the
new Constitution
(liberal/radical).
• George Washington
• John Adams
• James Madison
• John Jay
• Alexander Hamilton
Question: What was their argument?
Answer:
• Articles were too weak.
• States had too much power
which stopped the government
from being able to do anything.
• Constitution gave the
government the power that it
needed
• Still respected and protected the
rights of the states (which each
had a bill of rights)
• Radical (or liberal) because they
wanted government to have the
power it needed to act.
To a Federalist – accepting the
new government was a nobrainer!
Question: How did they convince people?
Answer:
• Had to convince 9 of the 13
states to ratify (accept) the
Constitution
• Used essays in newspapers
today known as the
Federalist Papers to
convince people that the
Constitution was needed
and should be ratified.
Hamilton, Madison, and Jay
wrote the Federalist papers.
These are considered some of
the most important essays in
history.
Question: What was the side against the Constitution?
Answer:
• Anti-Federalists
(conservatives) were against
the ratification of the
Constitution.
• Thomas Jefferson,
• George Mason
• Patrick Henry
• Very outspoken opponents
of the new government.
Question: What was their argument?
Answer:
• The new government was too strong
• The states were too weak.
• The new government would be like the British
government.
• President was too powerful
• Government could make too many laws
• People and the states had no protection.
• Known as conservative: wanted the government not
to have too much power.
• Thought the power should go to the states and the
people.
Question: How did they convince people?
Answer:
• Anti-Federalists fought
the ratification with
essays of their own
• Passionate speeches
about rights and
freedom in state
legislatures where the
voting would have to
occur.
Patrick Henry, George Mason, and
Richard Henry Lee helped contribute
to the less famous and less
successful “Anti-Federalist Papers”.
Question: What solved the argument between the two
sides?
Answer:
• VA and NY were holding out.
• Federalists agreed to include a
Bill of Rights after the states had
ratified the Constitution.
• Convinced Virginia and New York
to give in and ratify the
constitution.
Question: Why?
Answer:
• Bill of Rights (the first ten
amendments to the
Constitution)
• Gave the states and
individuals the protection
from government power.
• Made the conservatives happy
for now.
• Problems: the Constitution
was contradicted by the Bill of
Rights (and vice versa)
• 10th amendment vs. the elastic
clause.
“The powers not delegated to the
United States by the Constitution,
nor prohibited by it to the States,
are reserved to the States
respectively, or to the people.” 10th
Amendment of the United States
Constitution.
VS.
“The Congress shall have Power To make all Laws which shall be
necessary and proper for carrying
into Execution the foregoing
powers, and all other Powers
vested by this Constitution in the
Government of the United States,
or in any Department or Officer
thereof.” Article 1 section 8 clause
18 of the United States
Constitution
Complete the Comparison Chart
• On the back of 5L complete the chart.
• Use your notes, your notebook, and your
memory to complete the chart.
• Come up with as many arguments as you can
for each side.
• Remember what you have learned and the
importance of POWER!