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Ratification Debate. Strong Federal Union or Powerful States?. 1. Essential Questions. Did everyone thinks the Constitution was a good idea? Who were the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists? How long did the ratification of the Constitution take?. 2. Historical Themes. 3.
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Ratification Debate Strong Federal Union or Powerful States? 1
Essential Questions • Did everyone thinks the Constitution was a good idea? • Who were the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists? • How long did the ratification of the Constitution take? 2
Wait – It Wasn’t That Easy! Convention delegates signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787 and The last ratification vote occurred on May 29, 1790. • So what happened in-between these times? 5
Federalists Anti-Federalists VS 6
Small & Large States • Most of the smaller states overwhelmingly supported ratification of the Constitution (New Hampshire and Rhode Island were exceptions) • Strong opposition existed in the larger states whose approval was crucial for the new government's success • Why were smaller states more willing to support ratification? 8
Nine States ratified the Constitution by June 21, 1788, but the new government needed the ratification of the large States of New York and Virginia. Why were these states important? New York Led by Alexander Hamilton, and backed by arguments he and other supporters wrote in the local press, the vote for ratification was narrowly won, 30-27. July 26, 1788 Virginia • Opposition, led by George Mason and Patrick Henry, was overcome by an 89-79 • Promised a Bill of Rights • Ratified the Constitution June 25, 1788. 9
Focus: The Federalist Papers • New York’s ratification was hard fought. • Supporters of the Constitution, such as Alexander Hamilton & James Madison, published a series of articles published in major newspapers • These were later combined into The Federalist Papers. 10
Boston Independent Chronicle June 12, 1788, regarding Virginia's ratification of the Constitution 11
