Chapter 5 Section 3

Chapter 5 Section 3

RatificationObjectives: Debate between the Federalists and

the AntifederalistsHow the Constitution was finally ratified.

Key Terms and Names

• Federalists- supporters of the Constitution as written• Antifederalists- opponents to the Constitution as

written, very concerned about where the power would lie—in the hands of the states or the national government

• John Hancock- prominent Antifederalist• Patrick Henry of “Give me liberty of give me death”

fame was also an Antifederalist, legislator from the state of Virginia

Federalists• Supported the Constitution as written• Created a federal system-power divided between a national

and a regional (state) system• Large land owners who wanted property protected and a

strong central government• Merchants and artisans also supported because they believed

an effective (strong) central government could impose taxes on foreign goods and that would help their business.

• Farmers also supported because they thought a strong central government could regulate trade-which would help them.

Antifederalists• Opponents to the Constitution as written• They knew a national government was necessary but wanted to

make sure that the states retained their power. Which one would be supreme?

• Leading Antifederalists were John Hancock, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia, and George Clinton, governor of New York

• Edmund Randolph and George Mason became Antifederalists when they became convinced that a Bill of Rights should be added to the Constitution. Sam Adams, also, fearing the states were loosing their power.

• Included western farmers who feared the wealth and powerful

Leviathan

Thomas Hobbes

• Social Contract Theory

Federalist Fight• The Federalists had the advantage over the Antifederalists

because they had a plan of action and their opponents did not.• Very organized• Supported by newspapers• The Federalist a collection of 85 essays written by: James

Madison (28), Alexander Hamilton (52), and John Jay (5).• Signed Publius – meaning one who writes• New York newspapers 1787-1788 in an attempt to convince

New York to ratify• The essays explained how the new Constitution was to work

and were very influential.

The Federalist Papers

Order of Ratification• 1. Delaware - December 7, 1787 • 2. Pennsylvania - December 12, 1787 • 3. New Jersey - December 18, 1787 • 4. Georgia - January 2, 1788 • 5. Connecticut - January 9, 1788 • 6. Massachusetts - February 6, 1788 • 7. Maryland - April 28, 1788 • 8. South Carolina - May 23, 1788 • 9. New Hampshire - June 21, 1788 • *******************************************************• 10. Virginia - June 25, 1788 • 11. New York - July 26, 1788 • 12. North Carolina - November 21, 1789 • 13. Rhode Island - May 29, 1790

Virginia and New York• Nine states have ratified but there are potentially serious

doubts/problems because Virginia and New York have not.• Virginia—Fed. George Washington and James Madison vs.

Antifed. Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee and others. When Madison promised that a bill of rights would be added, Virginia consented and signed.

• New York—Fed. Alexander Hamilton and John Jay vs. Gov. George Clinton—when word that New Hampshire and Virginia had signed it put New York in an awkward position. If it didn’t sign, it would be surrounded by others that had. It agreed to sign.

• With these 11 (RI and NC holdouts) the Confederation Congress decided to set a timetable for the election of the new government.

• MARCH 4, 1789

Should the Majority Rule?

James Madison You? Thomas Jefferson

opposed defends