The Constitution: Federalists v. Anti-Federalists

SSUSH5b Essential Question: What were the major arguments of the federalists and the anti-federalists?

Vocabulary Words 1. controversy 2. right 3. anonymously 4. Federalist Directions: Number your paper from 1 to 5 and write the words and their correct definitions. Words 1. controversy 2. right 3. anonymously 4. Federalist 5. Anti-federalist Definitions something you have that no one can take from you a person who did not support the Constitution a person who supported the Constitution to do something without giving your name argument

III. Ratifying the Constitution Reaction to the New Constitution Newspapers published the new Constitution for the American people to read Many were shocked at the changes because the delegates said they were meeting only to revise the Articles of Confederation People began to take sides: Federalists: people who wanted to ratify the new Constitution Antifederalists: people who did not want to ratify the new Constitution

III. Ratifying the Constitution Controversy over the Constitution Opponents argued that the Constitution did not protect individual rights, and that a bill of rights was needed to protect freedom of speech, religion, and the press Supporters argued that the Constitution limited the power of the national government and that a bill of rights was not necessary

III. Ratifying the Constitution The Federalist Papers A series of 85 essays written to defend the Constitution Published in New York newspapers between 1787 and 1788 Written anonymously by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay Analyzed and explained the Constitution

III. Ratifying the Constitution Federalists Favored ratification of the Constitution Wanted a strong national government George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton Bill of rights was not necessary Mostly urban; merchants, skilled workers, and laborers New England Antifederalists Opposed ratification of the Constitution Wanted a weak national government that would not threaten states’ rights Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, and Thomas Jefferson Wanted a Bill of Rights Mostly rural; farmers, planters Southern states

III. Ratifying the Constitution Ratification Eventually, the Federalists agreed to add a bill of rights to the Constitution if the states would ratify the Constitution In December, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution In June, 1788, New Hampshire became the 9th to approve the Constitution

III. Ratifying the Constitution Adoption of the Bill of Rights In September, 1789, Congress submitted 12 amendments to the states for ratification By December, 1791, the states had ratified 10 of the Amendments, which came to be known as the Bill of Rights

III. Ratifying the Constitution The Bill of Rights Freedom of speech, religion, petition, the press, and assembly The right to bear arms No soldiers quartered in peoples’ homes Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures Protection against self-incrimination Right to a speedy trial Right to trial by jury trial Protection from cruel and unusual punishment The people have more rights than those in the Constitution The states have more rights than those in the Constitution

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