Transcript Ratifying the Constitution

Chapter 3 Section 3
Do Now
What is the purpose of
government?
 Consider why governments are put in
place and what society would be like
without a government.
Introduction
 As the Convention ended
in Philadelphia,
delegates rushed home
to begin the campaign
for ratification.
 Each state elected a
convention to vote on
the constitution.
 Nine states had vote for
document to ratify it.
 Americans debated in
state legislatures, in
mass meetings,
newspapers, and in
everyday conversations.
Federalists vs. Anti-federalist
 Federalists – supported Constitutional ratification
 Name emphasized that the constitution would create a
federal system
 Believed power should be divide among central and
state governments.
 They hoped smaller states would understand that each
state would keep some power
 Included large landowners, merchants, and artisans

The wanted government protection and taxes on imports
 Farmers along the coast supported the Constitution
which would regulate trade and protect prices.
Anti-Federalists
 Misleading name – not against federalism
 Accepted the need for a national gov.
 Real issued was if central or state governments would have
more power.
 Prominent Anti-Federalists included John Hancock,
Patrick Henry, of Virginia, and George Clinton, gov. of New
York, (Edmund Randolph and George Mason believed
constitution should include a bill of rights)
 Sam Adams believe it impinged on the rights of the states
 Many were western farmers living far from coast, self
sufficient, and believed it may foreclose their farms
The Federalist (Essays)
 Several factors worked against the Anti-federalists
 They complained but did not offer a solution
 Federalists were also better organized
 Federalists offered ideas in pamphlets, speeches and debates in state
conventions.
 The Federalist – 85 essays written by James Madison, Alexander
Hamilton, and John Jay (under the pen name Publius)
 Published New York Newspapers before publishing them as the Federalist
book
 Explained how the new US Constitution worked and why it was needed
 Even today judges, lawyers, legislators, and historians read the Federalist to
help them interpret the Constitution
Battle for Ratification
 Federalist knew they had clear majorities in some
states, but that larger states like New York would be
more difficult to convince.
 Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and
Conneticut quickly ratified the Constitution.
The Debate in Massachussetts
 Opponents of the Constitution held a clear majority at first
(including John Hancock and Samuel Adams- both had
signed Dec. of Ind.)
 Sam Adams said constitution must never infringe on
liberty of press, right to own arms, support search and
seizure without a warrant
 As a result federalists agreed to attach a bill of rights to the
Constitution once it was ratified
 Agreed to add amendment that would support state rights

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This persuaded Adams to support the Constitution
Hancock and supporters joined in because they said they would
nominate him for president
 Final vote – 187 for and 168 against
The Debate in Virginia
 By the end of June 1788 Maryland, South Carolina and New
Hampshire had ratified the Constitution.
 Federalists had reached the nine states needed to ratify the
constitution.
 New York and Virginia had not yet ratified
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Without the support of these two states many felt the Constitution
would fail.
George Mason and Patrick Henry argued strongly against ratification
George Washington and James Madison presented the arguments for
ratification to Virginia – the Governor agreed
Virginia did narrowly supported the New Constitution
New York Votes to Ratify
 2/3 of the elected legislature were Anti-Federalists,
including governor Clinton
 Federalist led by Hamilton and John Jay tried to assure
others that the Constitution would not infringe on state
rights
 Hamilton explained it had been specifically designed to
limit tyranny.
 Federalists managed to delay the vote until New
Hampshire and Virginia ratified the Constitution and the
new federal gov. was now in effect
 City of New York warned state government that it would secede
from NY and join the United States independently if Constitution
was not ratified
NY Votes to Ratify Cont…
 Some states did not initially ratify the Constitution
 We will discuss the reasons during class.
First Presidential Election
 George Washington was elected unopposed
 Swilling the voters?
 Federalist candidates for VP
 John Adams, former Minister to Great Britain from
Massachusetts
 John Jay, U.S. Secretary of Foreign Affairs from New York
 John Rutledge, former Governor of South Carolina
 John Hancock, Governor of Massachusetts
 Samuel Hutington, Governor of Connecticut
 Benjamin Lincoln, former U.S. Secretary of War from
Massachusetts
Washington’s Cabinet
 As the first president of the United
States, George Washington
established the precedent of
appointing a cabinet.
 Neither required by law nor the
Constitution, the cabinet consisted
of political advisors to the
president.
 Washington wisely selected
 John Adams (VP)
 Thomas Jefferson (Sec. of State)
 Hamilson (Sec. of Treasury)
 Edmund Randolph
(Attorney General)
 Successive presidents have
continued the tradition of selecting
a cabinet, though scholars debate its
usefulness.
What cabinet position is missing?