RATIFYING THE CONSTITUTION CHAPTER 5 SECTION 3

CONTROVERSIES OVER THE CONSTITUTION Special convention- organized to determine whether or not they supported the Constitution. Citizens of each state elected delegates to attend the s pecial convention 9 out of the 13 states had to ratify the Constitution

FEDERALISTS ( GEORGE WASHINGTON, JAMES MADISON, ALEXANDER HAMILTON) division of powers & system of checks and balances would protect Americans from the tyranny Federalists received heavy support from: cities-merchants, skilled workers, & laborers believed a STRONG federal government would improve trade/economy. Small states with weak economies.

ANTI-FEDERALISTS ( SAMUEL ADAMS, PATRICK HENRY, RICHARD HENRY LEE)

ANTI-FEDERALISTS Opposed having a strong centralized government & were against the Constitution Feared a strong central government would ignore the rights of the majority. Single government could NOT manage affairs of a large country. Constitution lacked protection of individual rights. Received strong support from rural areas and states with strong economies like New York.

Federalist Papers : series of 85 essays defending the Constitution appeared in New York newspapers in 1787 & Written by Alex Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Considered the best political works on the US Constitution ever written. THE OPPOSING FORCES

Letters from the Federal Farmer: (antifederalist) written by Henry Lee Antifederalists believed that people’s rights need to be protected: freedom of speech, press, religion; guarantees against unreasonable searches of people, their homes right to trial by jury. Made a strong argument in support of a Bill of Rights. THE OPPOSING FORCES (CONTINUED)

THE BILL OF RIGHTS LEADS TO RATIFICATION proposed US constitution had no guarantee that the government would protect the rights of the people or the states. Many felt that without a bill of rights, the nation would not adopt the new government

WHY PEOPLE DEMANDED A BILL OF RIGHTS Antifederalists argued: The Constitution weakened state governments. Citizens needed a written guarantee of freedoms The Federalists eventually agreed to add a Bill of Rights if the states agreed to ratify the Constitution.

ADOPTION OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS Congress submitted 12 amendments to the state legislatures for ratification. December 1791: 3/4 of states had ratified 10 amendments: Bill of Rights.

ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL? (NOT REALLY) Native Americans and slaves were excluded. Women not mentioned Many states permitted free blacks to vote, but the Bill of Rights offered them no protection against discrimination & hostility.