CHAPTER 5-3 RATIFYING THE CONSTITUTION

1. CHAPTER 5-3 RATIFYING THE CONSTITUTION AMERICAN HISTORY

2. FEDERALISTS & ANTI-FEDERALISTS • Federalists—Supporters of the Constitution • Anti-Federalists—Opponents of the Constitution • THE FEDERALIST VIEWPOINT • Strong leaders—James Madison, John Dickinson, Alexander Hamilton • The Constitution is not perfect but it is the best we can do • A Strong national government was necessary for the survival of the republic

3. THE FEDERALIST VIEWPOINT • Government needed to end chaos and mob rule like Shay’s Rebellion • Separation of Powers put limits on governmental power • Federalist cause was generally popular in the cities • Federalists were out-numbered in the general population • In the urban west part of states, Federalists were seen as educated, wealthy elite. • They were distrusted.

4. THE ANTI-FEDERALIST VIEWPOINT • Anti-federalists out-numbered federalists but they were at a disadvantage • The word “anti-federalist” suggested that they were simply against something without a plan of their own • Less organized and less unified than their opponents • More diverse-different economic backgrounds and social classes • They distrusted any central authority

5. THE ANTI-FEDERALIST VIEWPOINT • Strong national government would lead to tyranny • A national government would abuse states’ rights and individual liberties • Criticized such things as the role of the president, the number of congressional representatives, and the length of senatorial terms • Strong leaders—Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee

6. THE RATIFICATION PROCESS • Anti-federalists demanded a Bill of Rights • Basic rights needed to be spelled out • 9 out of 13 states needed to ratify the Constitution to bring it into effect • Framers called for state ratifying conventions instead of state legislatures because the legislatures stood to lose power if the Constitution took effect. • Process began in the Fall of 1787

7. September 1788—11 states have ratified the Constitution • Congress of the Confederation takes its final actions • Dates in early 1789 are set for elections for Congress and presidential electors • The last two states, NC & RI, did not join the union until after the new government was already at work

8. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS • A Bill of Rights needed to be added to the Constitution through the process of amendment • Article V gave either Congress or state conventions the right to propose amendments • September 1789—Congress approved 12 amendments based on the ideas of Madison • By the end of 1791—10 amendments had been ratified and those amendments became the BILL OF RIGHTS

9. THE BILL OF RIGHTS • Protects both individuals and states against what people feared might be too much government • Amendments I-VIII dealt with individual liberties • Amendment IX stated that listing certain rights given to the people didn’t mean that other rights did not exist as well • Problems addressed included: quartering of soldiers, trial by jury, freedom of speech and religion • Amendment X defined two types of power

10. Delegated Powers—Certain powers given to each branch of government • Reserved Powers—Powers that the Constitution does not specifically give to the federal government or deny to the states • The Xth Amendment says that the reserved powers belong to the states or to the people • THE END