• 3.) Analyze major features of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights for purposes, organization, functions, and principles, including rule of law, federalism, limited government, popular sovereignty, judicial review, separation of powers, and checks and balances.

• •  Explain main ideas of the debate over ratification that included the Federalist papers

• •  Analyze the Bill of Rights for its application to historical and current issues

• •  Outline the formal process of amending the Constitution of the United States

Main Idea Chapter 2 section 5Before the Constitution could take effect, a heated debate between those in favor of the Constitution and those who opposed it took place in all the states.

Ratification and the Bill of Rights

Reading Focus• What were the main points of the disagreement between the

Antifederalists and the Federalists?• What were the main arguments made by the authors of the

Federalist Papers?• Why was the Bill of Rights important to the ratification of the

Constitution?

The Fight for Ratification

• Constitutional Convention adjourned September 17, 1787• Drastic changes in plan for government surprised some, angered others• New national government would— Greatly reduce powers of state legislatures— Completely restructure Congress• Framers outlined process for ratifying Constitution— Voters in each state to elect representatives to state ratifying convention— To become law, Constitution had to be ratified by 9 of 13 states• Two factions— Federalists supported Constitution— Antifederalists opposed Constitution

Antifederalists versus Federalists

The Antifederalists •Recognized need for stronger national government but thought Constitution betrayed ideals of American Revolution

•Saw document as assault on state sovereignty, republicanism, liberty of the people

•Believed national government would become too powerful•Strongest criticism—Constitution lacked bill of rights guaranteeing civil liberties

Antifederalists versus Federalists

The Federalists • Enthusiastic supporters of powerful, vigorous national government• Feared central government that was too strong, but feared weak

government more• Believed sufficiently powerful national government would strengthen

fragile union, promote public good• Government would be empowered to defend against foreign enemies,

regulate trade, and put down internal disturbances.• Believed separation of powers in Constitution put limits on

government power

Antifederalists versus Federalists

ContrastingOver what issues did Antifederalists and Federalists disagree?

Reading Check

Answer(s): strength of federal government; restructuring of Congress; power of executive branch; necessity of bill of rights

Reading Check

ContrastingOver what issues did Antifederalists and Federalists disagree?

The Federalist Papers

Writing Team•Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay

•Wrote under pen name, Publius—one of founders of Roman Republic

•Authored 85 essays total

The Federalist Papers

Best Commentary•Circulated throughout the states•Classic statement of American political theory

•Collectively called the Federalist Papers

The Federalist Papers

Defended Constitution•Papers 10 and 51 argued Constitution would balance influence of different factions

•Others explained how principles of government would limit national authority & preserve liberty

The Federalist Papers

Rebuttal Essays • Pen names: Cato, Brutus•Antifederalists published own essays•Protecting liberty a chief concern•“Certain unalienable and fundamental rights…ought to be explicitly ascertained and fixed.”

Making InferencesWhy were the Federalist Papers written?

Reading Check

Answer(s): to win public support for ratification of the Constitution

Reading Check

Making InferencesWhy were the Federalist Papers written?

Because they did not trust government, the Antifederalists wanted the basic rights of the people spelled out in the Constitution. The struggle over the Bill of Rights became a key focus in the fight over ratification.

The Fight for Ratification

Bill of Rights• First Congress made bill of rights one of

government’s first priorities• Ideas for these rights had been voiced in

Declaration of Independence, elsewhere• December 1791: 10 amendments,

traditionally called the Bill of Rights, ratified

• Protected freedom of speech, press, religion, due process, right to fair trial, trial by jury

Winning Over the States• Federalists better prepared• Targeted small states• Delaware first to ratify, December 7, 1787• Ratification harder in larger, more powerful states • Promise of adding bill of rights key to

winning many states• Eventually all 13 states ratified