CHAPTER 5-3 RATIFYING THE CONSTITUTION AMERICAN HISTORY

FEDERALISTS & ANTI-FEDERALISTS Federalists—Supporters of the Constitution Anti-Federalists—Opponents of the Constitution THE FEDERALIST VIEWPOINT Strong leaders—James Madison, John Dickinson, Alexander Hamilton The Constitution is not perfect but it is the best we can do A Strong national government was necessary for the survival of the republic

THE FEDERALIST VIEWPOINT Government needed to end chaos and mob rule like Shay’s Rebellion Separation of Powers put limits on governmental power Federalist cause was generally popular in the cities Federalists were out-numbered in the general population In the urban west part of states, Federalists were seen as educated, wealthy elite. They were distrusted.

THE ANTI-FEDERALIST VIEWPOINT Anti-federalists out-numbered federalists but they were at a disadvantage The word “anti-federalist” suggested that they were simply against something without a plan of their own Less organized and less unified than their opponents More diverse-different economic backgrounds and social classes They distrusted any central authority

THE ANTI-FEDERALIST VIEWPOINT Strong national government would lead to tyranny A national government would abuse states’ rights and individual liberties Criticized such things as the role of the president, the number of congressional representatives, and the length of senatorial terms Strong leaders—Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee

THE RATIFICATION PROCESS Anti-federalists demanded a Bill of Rights Basic rights needed to be spelled out 9 out of 13 states needed to ratify the Constitution to bring it into effect Framers called for state ratifying conventions instead of state legislatures because the legislatures stood to lose power if the Constitution took effect. Process began in the Fall of 1787

September 1788—11 states have ratified the Constitution Congress of the Confederation takes its final actions Dates in early 1789 are set for elections for Congress and presidential electors The last two states, NC & RI, did not join the union until after the new government was already at work

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS A Bill of Rights needed to be added to the Constitution through the process of amendment Article V gave either Congress or state conventions the right to propose amendments September 1789—Congress approved 12 amendments based on the ideas of Madison By the end of 1791—10 amendments had been ratified and those amendments became the BILL OF RIGHTS

THE BILL OF RIGHTS Protects both individuals and states against what people feared might be too much government Amendments I-VIII dealt with individual liberties Amendment IX stated that listing certain rights given to the people didn’t mean that other rights did not exist as well Problems addressed included: quartering of soldiers, trial by jury, freedom of speech and religion Amendment X defined two types of power

Delegated Powers—Certain powers given to each branch of government Reserved Powers—Powers that the Constitution does not specifically give to the federal government or deny to the states The Xth Amendment says that the reserved powers belong to the states or to the people THE END