1. 8.3 Ratification and the bill of rights
TAKE NOTES

2. 8.3 Ratification and the bill of rights
Before we learned:
Now we will learn:
The Constitution created a new, stronger government that replaced the Confederation.
American liberties are protected by the U.S. Constitution and a Bill of Rights.

3. Vocabulary
Antifederalists- people who opposed ratification of the Constitution
Federalism- system of government in which power is shared between the national (or federal) government and the states
Federalists- people who supported ratification of the Constitution
The Federalist papers- ratification essays published in New York newspapers
Bill of Rights- first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution
Majority rule- a system in which more than one half of a group holds the power to make decisions binding the entire group
Parliament- Britain’s chief lawmaking body
Enlightenment- 18th century movement that emphasized the use of reason and the scientific method to obtain knowledge

4. Federalists and antifederalists
The framers suspected people might be afraid that the Constitution would take too much power away from the states, so they explained that the Constitution was based on federalism.
Federalism- a system of government in which power is shared between the central (or federal) government and the states.
Supporters of the new Constitution called themselves Federalists.

5. FEDERALISTS
Federalists also promoted their views and answered critics in a series of essays, known as The Federalist papers.
The authors of The Federalist papers were well-known politicians: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay.
The essays first appeared as letters in New York newspapers, calling for ratification on the Constitution.

6. Federalists and antifederalists
ANTIFEDERALSITS Antifederalists- people who opposed ratification of the Constitution.
ANTIFEDERALIST’s arguments against the Constitution
-took too much power from the States
-did not guarantee rights for the people
-feared a strong president would be declared king
-afraid the Senate would become a powerful ruling class
-liberties won during the Revolutionary War might be lost

7. Federalists and antifederalists
George Mason, Edmund Randolph and Elbridge Gerry were Antifederalists who did not sign the Constitution.
Antifederalists sent out pamphlets voicing their concerns about the new government; written by Mary Otis Warren

8. FEDERALISTS VS. ANTIFEDERALISTS
Antifederalists received support from
rural areas, where people feared a strong government that might add to their tax burden.
Large states and those with strong economies, such as New York, which had greater freedom under the Articles of Confederation

9. The battle for ratification
Key Question: How did the lack of a bill of rights endanger the Constitution?
The Constitution did not guarantee that the government would protect the rights of people or the states.
Some supporters of the Constitution wanted to add a bill of rights, a formal summary of citizens’ rights and freedoms, as a set of amendments to the Constitution.

10. The battle for ratification
Antifederalists were opposed to the U.S. Constitution and did NOT want it ratified.
Antifederalists wanted written guarantees that the people would have certain freedoms.
Federalists insisted that the Constitution granted only limited powers to the national government so that it could not violate the rights of the states or of the people.
Federalists also argued that the Constitution gave the people power to protect their rights through the election of trustworthy leaders.
Solution?

11. The battle for ratification
The Federalists met the demands of Antifederalists and promised to add a bill of rights if the states ratified the Constitution.

12. The battle for ratification
State
Date
Order
Votes For
Votes Against
Delaware
December 7, 1 30
Pennsylvania
December 12, 2 46 23
New Jersey
December 18, 3 38
Georgia
January 2, 1788 4 26
Connecticut
January 9, 1788 5
128 40
Massachusetts
February 6, 6
187
168
Maryland 32 7 63 11
South Carolina
May 23, 1788 8
149 73
New Hampshire
June 21, 1788 9 57 47
Virginia
June 25, 1788 10 89 79
New York
July 26, 1788 27
North Carolina
November 21, 12
194 77
Rhode Island
May 29, 1790 13 34
The Constitution was officially ratified on June 21, 1788 when it gained approval by the ninth state.
The Constitution provided for majority rule, a system in which more than one half of a group holds the power to make decisions binding the entire group.

13. The battle for ratification
After fierce debate, Virginia narrowly ratified the Constitution.
When New York found out that Virginia accepted the Constitution, they then as well ratified the Constitution. (Until then, the Antifederalists outnumbered the Federalists).
It was not until 1789 that North Carolina ratified the Constitution. Rhode Island finally ratified it in 1790.

14. the bill of rights and the constitution
1. Religions and Political Freedom
2. Right to Bear Arms
3. Quartering Troops
4. Search and Seizure
5. Rights of Accused Persons
6. Rights to a Speedy, Public Trial
7. Trial by Jury in Civil Cases
8. Limits of Fines and Punishments
9. Rights of People
10. Powers of States and People
James Madison submitted ten amendments, or additions to a document, to the Constitution.
They were placed at the end of the Constitution in a separate section and became known as the Bill of Rights.

15. the bill of rights and the constitution
Amending the Constitution
The Bill of Rights was the first step in making the Constitution a living document, one that can be amended to reflect the changes in society.
Ways to change the Constitution:
First: 2/3 of each house of Congress OR 2/3 of the state legislatures can propose an amendment
Second: To make the amendment a law, an amendment needs the approval of ¾ of the states.
By this method, the Bill of Rights became the first 10 amendments and since then, 17 more amendments have been added to the Constitution.