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Ratifying the U.S. Constitution

Ratifying the U.S. Constitution. Ratify? Wasn’t it finished?. Ratify: To make something officially valid; giving approval

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Ratifying the U.S. Constitution

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  1. Ratifying the U.S. Constitution

  2. Ratify? Wasn’t it finished? • Ratify: To make something officially valid; giving approval • While the delegates from the Constitutional Convention agreed on the new U.S. Constitution (which was signed by the delegates), the states themselves had to accept the new structure of the U.S. government

  3. Getting the states to ratify.. • Debate as to ratify the U.S. constitution rose highly. Many were unsure if this new government is going to be better • Federalist: Someone who supported the new U.S. constitution (consisted of mainly merchants and people living in cities) • Anti-Federalist: Someone who was against the new constitution, (consisted of mainly rural farmers and laborers)

  4. Why against the new constitution? • Many were afraid that the national government was going to be too strong • There wasn’t any press coverage about the convention in newspapers. Anti-federalists argued that it was made in secret, and that the document was extralegal • Extralegal: a document that is not authorized by law • Also argued that there was no Bill of Rights, and that the Government could take advantage of the people, and lose the freedom earned from the Revolutionary War

  5. The counter-argument • The federalists argued that without a strong national government, anarchy would take place • Anarchy: No government in place, a time of political disorder and chaos • Regarding the Bill of Rights: Federalists promised that one would eventually be created.

  6. The Federalist • Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison • A series of 80+ essays defending the U.S. constitution • The Federalist helped ratify the U.S. Constitution in New York by 3 votes

  7. Now that the Government is legitimate…. • First President and Vice President of the United States: George Washington and John Adams • March 4, 1789: Congress met for the first time In New York City (Washington D.C. is made the national capital later) • First order of business: The Bill of Rights

  8. The Bill of Rights • The first 10 amendments of the U.S. Constitution • 12 amendments were originally made, only 10 were ratified

  9. The Bill of Rights, Simplified. Pt.1 • Freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion, and petition • Right to keep and bear arms in order to maintain a well regulated militia • No quartering of soldiers • Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures • Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, double jeopardy

  10. The Bill of Rights, simplified. Pt. 2. 6. The Rights of accused persons are described here (right to a speedy trial, etc.) 7. Right of trial by jury in civil cases. 8. Freedom from excessive bail, cruel, and unusual punishments. 9. Other rights of the people 10. Other powers not listed reserved to the states.

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