Ratification of the Constitution

THE FINAL STEP

Ratification

Ratification Process

9 of 13 states had to ratify or approve Why not all 13 states?

Constitution would be presented to special conventions in each state Delegates to conventions would be elected by popular

voteExample of Social Contract Theory

Locke—Just governments “derive their…powers from the consent of the governed.”

George Mason (VA)Luther Martin (MD)Robert Yates (NY)Patrick Henry (VA)

Elbridge Gerry (MA)

Mercy Otis Warren (MA)

Richard Henry Lee (VA)

Leading Anti-Federalists

Rights not protected/needed Bill of Rights

Only House of Reps is chosen directly by the people

Powers given to national gov’t were vague & general & could be unlimited

National gov’t would be too far removed from average citizens

Not enough protection from national gov’t becoming too powerful

Anti-Federalist Arguments

Do You Agree?

What do you think… Was the national government too big? Was a Bill of Rights needed? What was better for the people – a strong national

government or a strong state government? At this point…would you vote to approve the

Constitution as it is? You have to wonder what the other side thinks…

Federalist Papers

John Jay (NY)James Madison (VA)Alexander Hamilton

(NY)

Series of 85 essays promoting ratification of the Constitution

Published under the name Publius, meaning “public”

Leading Federalists

Would fix problems of Articles

Rights protected by separation of powers, checks & balances, & system of representation

Bill of rights not necessary, state constitutions already had them

Civic virtue alone will not promote welfare, gov’t is also needed to do so

Federalist Arguments

Which Side Would You Have Taken

What do you think… Was the national government fine the way it was? Was a Bill of Rights needed? Would you have voted to approve the Constitution as it

was?

Ratification

Delaware Dec. 7, 1787Pennsylvania Dec. 12,

1787New Jersey Dec. 18,

1787Georgia Jan. 2, 1788Connecticut Jan. 9,

1788Massachusetts Feb. 6

1788Maryland April 28, 1788

South Carolina May 23, 1788

New Hampshire June 21, 1788

Virginia June 25, 1788New York July 26,

1788North Carolina Nov.

21, 1789Rhode Island May 29,

1790