Chapter 5 Section 2The Struggle for Ratification

Mrs. EnrightSocial Studies

Vocabulary

• Ratified- Approved• Federalists- Supporters of the Constitution

and strong federal, or national government• Anti-Federalists- Opponents of the

Constitution

Federalist Views

The Federalists thought that individual states couldn’t protect themselves whereas a strong government would…

• Provide protection• Maintain order• Regulate trade• Guarantee the rights of the citizens• Ensure that the nation’s debts were paid• Make sure that American money had a stable value

worldwide

Anti-Federalist Views

• Feared that a strong government would endanger people’s liberties

• Government couldn’t be called a real government because meetings were held far away from the public

• Representatives should meet close to the people that they represented

Laws “Necessary and Proper”

• In the Constitution there was a statement that gave Congress power to make laws “necessary and proper” in order to carry out stated powers

• Anti-Federalists felt this statement left room for the abuse of power

Bill of Rights

• Anti-Federalists wanted a bill of rights so that citizen’s rights were respected

• Federalists thought it was unnecessary since the Constitution already limited the government’s power

Patrick Henry

• Revolutionary War hero • Strong Anti-Federalist• Called Constitution “horridly defective”• Led Virginia in the fight against ratification• “Mr. Chairman, the necessity for a bill of rights appears to me

to be greater in this government than ever it was in any government before…. All rights not expressly reserved to the people are relinquished to rulers.”

The Federalist Papers

• 1787-1788 : essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay (known as The Federalist)

• Published in New York newspapers, 85 total• Talked about the need of a new government and what

form the government should take• Attempted to convince readers of the need for the

Constitution • Emphasized how America was weak as a country and

could be over powered by France, Spain, or England without a national government

Ratification

• Federalists agreed to create a bill of rights• In several cases the Constitution was

approved only by a few votes• June 1788- a new government was created

when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify

• Government needed the four remaining states• Spring 1790- all 13 states had ratified the

Constitution

Ratifying the Constitution

•Delaware - December 7, 1787 •Pennsylvania - December 12, 1787 •New Jersey - December 18, 1787 •Georgia - January 2, 1788 •Connecticut - January 9, 1788 •Massachusetts - February 6, 1788 •Maryland - April 28, 1788 •South Carolina - May 23, 1788 •New Hampshire - June 21, 1788 •Virginia - June 25, 1788 •New York - July 26, 1788 •North Carolina - November 21, 1789(Originally defeated) •Rhode Island - May 29, 1790