ratification 2008
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Theme of Theme of CConstitutional onstitutional CConvention = onvention = CCompromiseompromise
ConcessionsConcessions
The U.S Constitution
English Traditions
Colonial GovernmentsColonial Governments
NY State ConstitutionThe Iroquois Confederacy
The Challenge continues….RatificationThe Challenge continues….Ratification
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2
1.1.How was the How was the Constitution to be Constitution to be ratified?ratified?
2.2.Why was their Why was their opposition?opposition?
3.3.Who opposed and Who opposed and why?why?
1.1.How was the How was the Constitution to be Constitution to be ratified?ratified?
2.2.Why was their Why was their opposition?opposition?
3.3.Who opposed and Who opposed and why?why?
According the new U.S. Constitution Article VII
requires 9 states to Ratify the document
The challenge of ratification was to unite 13 diverse states
(population, wealth, size) under a common government
system
““If men were angels, If men were angels, no government no government
would be necessary. would be necessary. If angels were to If angels were to
govern men, neither govern men, neither external nor internal external nor internal
controls on controls on government would government would
be necessary.”be necessary.” James MadisonJames Madison
Federalists Anti-FederalistsAnti-Federalists
How about a Boxing Analogy……
The ratification of the Constitution was hotly hotly contested in many states pitting those in favor of a strong central gov’t (Federalist) and those who
feared a strong central gov’t (Anti-Federalist)
Strong gov’t to run the country
Protect individual
rights
VS.VS.
The Federalist PapersThe Federalist Papers
(the most influential political (the most influential political literature of the time) literature of the time)
1) Argued that limitations on 1) Argued that limitations on governmental power were governmental power were builtbuilt into the Constitution into the Constitution
2) Need for strength to earn 2) Need for strength to earn respect abroadrespect abroad
The Federalist PapersFederalist Papers were a series of 8585 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, under the pen-name "Publius," that appeared in New York newspapers (primarily, the Independent Journal and the New York Packet) from October 1787 to May 1788. The essays urged New York delegates to ratify the Constitution. In 1788, the essays were
published in a bound volume entitled the Federalist and eventually became known as the Federalist Papers.
To address fears that the Constitution would give the central government too much power and would limit individual freedom, Hamilton,
Jay, and Madison analyzed the Constitution in detail and outlined the built in checks and
balances meant to divide power between the three branches of government and to preserve
the rights of the people and states.
Ratification ChartFederalistsFederalists Anti- FederalistsAnti- Federalists
Position: Position: SupportedSupported Position : Position : OpposedOpposed
WHY?WHY? Large land owners, businessmen, wealthy
Wanted a stronger central govt. to protect their economic interests
WHY? WHY? Feared stronger central government
Constitution lacked a Bill of Rights
Too Much power to the president
Placed power in the hands of the wealthy
The proposed The proposed Constitution. . . is, Constitution. . . is,
in strictness, in strictness, neither a national neither a national
nor a federal nor a federal constitution; but a constitution; but a
composition of composition of both both
James MadisonJames Madison
The state motto, "Live free or die," and nine stars, signifying the fact that New
Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the