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5.04Notes Guide
“Ratification: Federalists vs. Antifederalists”
Answer the5.04 Notes Guide as you review the lesson.
Intro:
When you hear the words “freedom, liberty, and rights,” what comes to mind?
What freedoms do you hold most dear?
What guarantees those freedoms?
Ratification
The compromises of the Constitution had proven to be tough, but the ratification of the Constitution was equally as challenging. Even before the Constitution was signed by the framers on Sept, 17, 1787, opposition and support teams were forming. out of the thirteen states had to , or approve, the new government. Furthermore, the vast majority of the American public thought the product would be a revised Articles of Confederation.
Two camps formed: the who were in favor of the Constitution and the who were against it.
Antifederalists
The Antifederalists' main argument was that the document lacked a , which would protect the individual citizen's rights. Many feared a large federal government would crush the state and local governments. Antifederalists also felt a president would be no better than a king.
Patrick Henry, who was a well-known patriot before and during the American Revolution, was selected to attend the Philadelphia Convention. He believed in unity of the nation; however, he boycotted the convention because he did not believe in a strong central government. was a leader amongst the Antifederalists and was influential in adding the Bill of Rights to the Constitution.
Federalists
The Federalists wanted a as provided in the Constitution.
The Federalists, a little more organized in their cause, wrote a series of 85 essays later known as the , urging the American people to see the benefits of a strong centralized government. The authors included , , and ; however, the essays were signed with the fictitious name, Publius.
Federalists Win
The support of George Washington was crucial in the Federalists winning their campaign to get the Constitution ratified.
The Federalists’ support helped ratify the U.S. Constitution by June 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it with Rhode Island being the last state to ratify. On June 21, 1788 the United States Constitution was ratified and became official. In the temporary capital of the United States, New York City, George Washington was sworn in as president.
New Leaders
Shortly after the Constitution was ratified, delegates met to select a president. was unanimously elected by the Electoral College as the first President of the United States. The first capitol was in.
had the second highest popular vote, so he was elected vice president. Washington surrounded himself with trustworthy advisors, later known as the Presidential .
was named Secretary of State to handle relations with foreign countries.
Alexander Hamiltonwas named .
Bill of Rights
One of the stumbling blocks to the Constitution was its lack of a bill of rights. Federalists had promised that a bill of rights would be a top priority under the new Congress.
James Madison made good on his promise and authored amendments that addressed specific freedoms. The amendments would have to obtain approval from both houses and eventually the states. Ten of the seventeen amendments were approved and thewent into effect in December of 1791 as the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
Bill of Rights
Amendment 1 Freedoms, Petitions, Assembly
Amendment 2 Right to bear arms
Amendment 3 Quartering of soldiers
Amendment 4 Search and arrest
Amendment 5 Rights in criminal cases
Amendment 6 Right to a fair trial
Amendment 7 Rights in civil cases
Amendment 8 Bail, fines, punishment
Amendment 9 Rights retained by the People
Amendment 10 States' rights
Supreme Law of the Land
declared the supremacy of the national government or the Constitution is the of the land.
The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. These amendments protect the individual rights, freedoms, and liberties of all Americans.