1. Ratifying the Constitution
United States History 8
Unit 2, Chapter 5, Section 4

2. Main Ideas
Federalists and Antifederalists engaged in debate over the new Consitution
The Federalist Papers played an important role in the fight for ratification of the Constitution
Ten amendments were added to the Constitutions to provide a Bill of Rights to protect citizens
Americans carried on a vigorous debate before ratifying the Constitution

3. Federalists and Antifederalists
Antifederalists: opposed the Constitution because it did not have a section that guaranteed individual rights and gave too much power to the central government, mostly small farmers and debtors, included George Mason, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry
Federalists: supported the Constitution, mostly wealthy planters, farmers and lawyers, included George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton

4. Federalist Papers
Essays supporting the Constitution written anonymously by Publius, but actually written by Hamilton, Madison & Jay.
December 7, 1787: Delaware first state to ratify
June 1788: New Hampshire became the ninth

5. Bill of Rights 1789: Congress proposed 12 amendments
1791: states had ratified 10 of the amendments intended to protect citizens’ rights