RATIFYING THE CONSTITUTION

Chapter 5 Section 3

FEDERALISTS VS. ANTI-FEDERALISTS Federalists

Supporters of the Constitution; favored the new balance of power between the states and national gov.

AntifederalistsOpposed the Constitution; opposed having

such a strong central gov.

CONTROVERSIES OVER THE CONSTITUTION framers set up a procedure so that each

state held special conventions Where voters elected delegates who than

represented their state and accepted or rejected the Constitution

If the delegates approved the Constitution—ratification would occur Official approval of the Constitution by the states

(at least nine states in order to be passed) Gave the farmers an opportunity to campaign for

delegates in their states who would support ratification

FEDERALISTS Insisted that the

division of powers and system of checks and balances would protect Americans from the tyranny of centralized authority

ANTIFEDERALISTS Countered with a long list of possible

abuses of power by a strong central gov. Fear that gov. would serve the interests of

the privileged minority instead of the majority

Raised doubts that a single government could manage the affairs of a large country

Antifederalists focused on the Constitution’s lack of protection for individual rights

OPPOSING FORCES (SLIDE 1) Leading federalists:

George Washington, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton Used their experience and powers to win the

support of drafting the constitution Received heavy support from urban centers

People who relied on regulating trade saw that this would benefit them

Small states or ones with weak economies favored a strong central government as well

OPPOSING FORCES (SLIDE 2) Leading Antifederalists:

Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, and Richard Henry Lee

Received support from rural areas People feared a strong government would add to

their tax burden Large states with strong economies did not

support the Constitution at first Ex: New York; had greater freedom under the

Articles of Confederation

THE FEDERALISTS A series of 85 essays that

defended the Constitution Written by the

Federalists leaders Provided analysis and an

explanation of Constitutional provisions (laws)Ex: Seperation of powers

and the limits on the power of majorities

THE BILL OF RIGHTS LEADS TO RATIFICATION Constitution did not guarantee that the

gov. would protect the rights of the people or of the states

The constitution had a lack of a formal summary of citizens’ rights and freedoms

DEMANDING A BILL OF RIGHTS Antifederalists argued that the people

needed a national bill of rights They wanted freedom of speech, press,

religion, assurance of the right to trial by jury, and the right to bear arms

Federalists Wanted the Constitution to grant only

limited powers to the national government Said that the people did have rights because the

delegates whom they trusted made the decisions

RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION Delaware led the country in ratifying the

Constitution in December 1787 June 1788, New Hampshire was the last

state (ninth) to approve the Constitution The large states of Virginia and New

York did not vote but the gov. needed the influence

ADOPTION OF A BILL OF RIGHTS In September 1789, Congress submitted

12 amendments to the state legislatures for ratification

By December 1791, the required three-fourths of the states had ratified ten of the amendments, which are now the Bill of Rights

BILL OF RIGHTS First eight amendments spell

out the personal liberties the states had requested

Ninth and Tenth amendment: Impose general limits on the

powers of the federal government The protection of rights and

freedoms did not apply to all Americans Native Americans, slaves, and

women were not mentioned Some northern states permitted

free blacks to vote; but they had no protection over white’s discrimination and hostility