1. Ch. 8.3: Ratifying the Constitution
EQ: Who were the Federalists and Anti-Federalists AND how did their beliefs on the US Constitution and national government differ?
NOTE - Be sure to discuss details on the Bill of Rights in your answer!

2. For Your Information:
Almost immediately, a battle began over the ratification of the Constitution among the various states
Ratification = To sign or give formal consent, making a document officially valid
Nine out of the 13 states had to agree to ratify the Constitution in order for it to become official

3. What were the Federalists?
Federalism = belief that power should be shared between the central government and the states
Federalists believed the national government should have more power than state or local governments
They were in favor of the Constitution because it created a strong national government.

4. FEDERALISM
Power is constitutionally divided between a central authority and states.
DELEGATED Powers
CONCURRENT Powers
RESERVED Powers
Powers given to the Federal Government
Powers shared by both levels of government
Powers kept by the states and people

5. Federalism Federal State Concurrent [Delegated] [Reserved] AMENDMENT X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

7. Who were the leading Federalists?
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
Wrote The Federalist Papers, essays describing why people should support ratification of the U.S. Constitution

8. What reasons did the Federalists give to defend their views on the ratification?
Believed strong national government would prevent a number of the problems found in the Articles of Confederation

9. Strong Central Government National Greatness (Working together)
Federalist Positions
Fears
Platform
“The Mob”
Unstable Government
Rebellions
Civil War
Humiliation Abroad
Strong Central Government
National Greatness (Working together)
Commerce
(business and trade)

10. What were the Anti-Federalists?
Anti-Federalists were people opposed to U.S. Constitution
Anti-Federalists envisioned small, state-ran country that didn’t depend on large federal government

11. Ratification (Approval)
Federalists
Antifederalists
Supported
Opposed

12. Q4: Who were the leading Anti-Federalists?
Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, and George Mason
Fought against ratification and refused to vote for the Constitution until a Bill of Rights was added
Bill of Rights = A set of rules that defines fundamental liberties (a person’s individual rights)
Patrick Henry
Sam Adams
George Mason

14. Antifederalist Positions
Fears
Suggestions
Tyranny
“Special Interests”
Aristocracy
Excessive Taxation
Autocratic Government
(absolute power)
Term Limits (Rotation in Office)
Bill of Rights
States’ Rights
Support Agrarianism (farming)

15. The Ratification Debate
Federalists
Antifederalists
Reservationists
Irreconcilables
Ratify Constitution “as is”
Ratify Constitution with Amendments
(add the Bill of Rights)
Don’t Ratify Constitution

16. What reasons did the Anti-Federalists give to defend their views on the Constitution?
Believed Constitution gave federal government too much power
Thought too much power in executive branch would lead to tyranny
Tyranny = Cruel and oppressive government rule

17. To Summarize: FEDERALISTS ANTI-FEDERALISTS
Supported removing some powers from the states and giving more powers to the national government
Wanted important political powers to remain with the states
Favored dividing powers among different branches of government
Wanted the legislative branch to have more power than the executive
Proposed a single person to lead the executive branch
Feared that a strong executive might become a king or tyrant
Wanted power shared between central government and the states
Believed a bill of rights needed to be added to the Constitution to protect people’s rights

18. Three Reasons for Adding the Bill of Rights:
1) Most states would not sign for ratification of the Constitution without it
2) It protected natural rights and freedoms, which was a goal of the writers of the Constitution
3) People believed it helped limit the power of the national government

19. Ratification of the Constitution
Date
State
Votes
Yes No 1
December 7, 1787
Delaware 30 2
December 12, 1787
Pennsylvania 46 23 3
December 18, 1787
New Jersey 38 4
January 2, 1788
Georgia 26 5
January 9, 1788
Connecticut
128 40 6
February 6, 1788
Massachusetts
187
168 7
April 28, 1788
Maryland 63 11 8
May 23, 1788
South Carolina
149 73 9
June 21, 1788
New Hampshire 57 47 10
June 25, 1788
Virginia 89 79
July 26, 1788
New York 27 12
November 21, 1789
North Carolina
194 77 13
May 29, 1790
Rhode Island 34 32

20. IT’S OFFICIAL! LET’S PARTY!

21. THE BILL OF RIGHTS (pages 266-268)
1ST
Freedom of Speech, Press, Assembly, Religion, Petition
2ND
Right to Bear Arms (own guns/weapons)
3RD
No quartering troops in time of peace
4TH
No unreasonable search and/or seizure without warrant or probable cause
5TH
Rights of Accused Persons/No double jeopardy
6TH
Right to Speedy and Public Trial / Right to Counsel
7TH
Right to Trial By Jury in Civil Suits
8TH
No Cruel and Unusual Punishments /Excessive Bails
9TH
People retain obvious rights not listed in Constitution
10TH
States retain rights not listed in Constitution

23. Summary Write a 10 sentence minimum summary answering the EQ.
Remember the EQ was:
Who were the Federalists and Anti-Federalists AND how did their beliefs on the US Constitution and national government differ
NOTE - Be sure to discuss details on the Bill of Rights in your answer!