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Ratification of the Constitution . Ratifying the Constitution.
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Ratification of the Constitution
Ratifying the Constitution • After the 55 delegates (representatives from the states) finished creating /writing the Constitution at the Constitutional Convention, the new form of government they created needed to be ratified (approved) by the individual states and the people. What does it mean to Ratify? Ratify- to give formal approval to something in order that it can become legally binding or functioning Therefore • The states had to approve or consent to following the guidelines of the new Constitution • This meant that the states would have to give up some of their power and give it to the new national government created by the Constitution.
Federalists and Anti-Federalists • Some people liked the new Constitution and the government it created • The Federalists • Some people hated the new Constitution and the government it created • The Anti-Federalists
The Federalists • Lead by: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison & John Jay • Favored the ratification of the Constitution • Favored a strong federal (national) government • Argued that a “Bill of Rights” was not needed, as federal power was limited by embedded principles in the Constitution like :Check and Balances, Separation of Powers, Popular Sovereignty, and Limited Government • Authors of the Federalist Papers.
The Anti-Federalists • Lead by: Patrick Henry, George Mason and Richard Henry Lee • Opposed the ratification of the Constitution • Wanted a weak federal (national) government that would not threaten individual state sovereignty (power) • Believed and argued that a “Bill of Rights” was needed to declare and guarantee the rights of the people
The Federalist Papers • Written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison & John Jay • A number of essays written to convince people to ratify the Constitution • Described why the Constitution was better than the Articles of Confederation & State Sovereignty • Note the possible downfall of America if the Constitution is not ratified
Ratification • Federalist promise the addition of a Bill of Rights • Ratification by the states succeeded • New Government officially formed in 1789 • James Madison drafts 10 amendments to the Constitution, these collectively become known as the Bill of Rights