Ratification of the Constitution

Federalists and Anti-Federalists Anti-federalists- people who opposed the Constitution Some thought Constitution gave too much power to the central government Some thought the problem was that Constitution did not include a Bill of Rights

Key Anti-Federalists George Mason Richard Henry Lee Samuel Adams Patrick Henry

Anti Federalists: Opposed ratification of the new Constitution 1. Would take away liberties 2. Create a strong central government 3. Ignore the will of the people 4. Favor the wealthy

Key Federalists James Madison George Washington Benjamin Franklin Alexander Hamilton John Jay

Federalists- supporters of the Constitution Most believed Constitution offered a good balance of power Believed in a stronger Constitution

Federalist Papers Series of essays which gave arguments in favor of the Constitution Written under the name Publius Later revealed to be written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay Authors told Americans that the new government would not overpower the states

Ratification Constitution needed only 9 states to approve it Each state except Rhode Island held state conventions to discuss and vote on Constitution Dec 7, 1787: Delaware 1 st to approve Followed by: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and New Hampshire Constitution went into effect in June 1788 Rhode Island last state to ratify Constitution in May 1790

Demanding a Bill of Rights Several states ratified Constitution because they had been promised a Bill of Rights would be added Anti-Federalists did not think Constitution would protect personal freedoms Federalists said state conventions already promised these rights Madison & Jefferson saw need to fulfill promise and urged Congress to create a Bill of Rights

Rights would be added as amendments Amendments- official changes, corrections, or additions Amendments must be approved by 2/3 majority of both Houses of Congress Then ratified by ¾ of the states List of amendments came from ideas of the state conventions

Dec 1791, 10 amendments were ratified 10 became known as the Bill of Rights

George Washington was elected the first President of the U.S John Adams was elected the first Vice President of the U.S.