AP AMERICAN GOVERNMENTUnit 3: The States, Ratification through Civil War

RATIFICATION Sent to the States

When 9 ratified, it would become law of the land in those States No expiration date for ratification no rules on how States should ratify All States chose democratically elected conventions.

Immediate Ratification Delaware (30-0) Pennsylvania (46-23) New Jersey (38-0) Georgia (26-0) Connecticut (128-40)

RATIFICATION

First Contested – February, 1788 – Massachusetts

Rise of Anti-Federalists – worried about religious freedoms and minority protections

John Hancock and Sam Adams (both Anti-Federalists) support conditional ratification after compromise of Bill of Rights to be added within four years

Final Vote: 187-168

RATIFICATION

With Massachusetts guarantee of Bill of Rights… Maryland, South Carolina and New Hampshire Total of 9 states had now ratified – planning for government elections

Virginia and New York Both States had the strongest Anti-Federalist factions Arguments against ratification

Bill of Rights Issues Taxation Issues Loss of State independence Constitution would only protect the already wealthy

RATIFICATION

The Federalist Papers

90 editorials written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison

Main points A Bill of Rights would be adopted The separation of powers and the many checks and balances would

keep central government power restrained Several factions would always check the majority States were guaranteed numerous “reserved powers” to guarantee

existence and power

RATIFICATION Virginia and New York

George Washington

Virginia ratifies in July, 1788: 89-79 New York ratified two weeks later: 39-27

North Carolina officially ratifies on 21 November 1789 after Bill of Rights passed by Congress and sent to the States

Rhode Island ratifies on 29 May 1790 after Senate “join or die” letter and President Washington’s implied threat of military action