Chapter 5, Section 4
Ratifying the Constitution
Federalists and Antifederalists
Federalists
Antifederalists
•Favored a strong
central government
•Encouraged
manufacturing and trade
•Supported loose
interpretation of the
Constitution
•Favored strong state
governments
•Encouraged agriculture
•Supported strict
interpretation of the
Constitution
•Believed that the wealthy,
•Believed political power should be
educated elite should lead the new in the hands of the people
nation
Federalists and Antifederalists
• Antifederalist
– Opposed the Constitution
• Believed it gave the central government too much
power
• Wanted the Constitution to include a section to
guarantee individual rights
– Many were small farmers and debtors
– George Mason, Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry
Federalists and Antifederalists
• Federalists
– Supporters of the Constitution
• Believed it offered a favorable balance of power
between various political views
– Many were wealthy planters, farmers, and
lawyers. Others were laborers and
craftspeople
• Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Alexander
Hamilton
Federalists and Antifederalists
• Federalists and Antifederalists debated
whether the new Constitution should be
approved
– Gave speeches, printed pamphlets
advocating their cause
Federalist Papers
• A series of essays supporting the Constitution,
written anonymously under the name Publius
– Actually written by Alexander Hamilton, James
Madison, and John Jay
• Attempted to reassure Americans that the new
federal government would not overpower the
states
– Federalist Paper No. 10: James Madison argued that
the cultural diversity of America would prevent any
one group from gaining too much power
Federalist Papers
• Only 9 states needed to ratify the
Constitution for it to pass
– In order to assure national unity, it was
necessary for every state to ratify it
• Paul Revere
– Served on a special committee supporting
ratification
• Going against many of his Patriot friends, Revere
believed that the Constitution sought to preserve
individual liberties
Federalist Papers
• Antifederalist Papers
– Rebuttal to Federalist Papers
• December 1787
– Delaware became the first state to ratify the
Constitution
• Constitution went in effect in June of 1788
after New Hampshire became the 9th state
to ratify it
Federalist Papers
• Political leaders of the day knew the importance
of support from large states such as Virginia and
New York
– James Madison was finally able to convince Virginia
to ratify the Constitution in mid 1788
– Riots against the Constitution occurred in New York
• Alexander Hamilton argued convincingly for ratification
against Antifederalists
– Shortly after Virginia ratified, New York followed
• Rhode Island was the last state to ratify the
Constitution in May of 1790
Bill of Rights
• Many states ratified the Constitution on the
condition that a bill protecting individual
liberties would be added to it
– While Antifederalists felt that the Constitution
did not protect individual liberties, Federalists
felt that no bill need be added
• Argued that individual liberties were already
protected within the body of the Constitution
Bill of Rights
• James Madison made a bill of rights
priority, encouraging Congress to put one
together
– The rights would then be added to the
Constitution as amendments (official
changes)
• Article V of the Constitution describes the
amendment process, which is intended to reflect
the will of the people
– Required 2/3 majority in both houses of Congress and
ratification of ¾ of the states
Bill of Rights
• Legislators used many sources when
creating the Bill of Rights
– English Bill of Rights, Declaration of
Independence, Virginia Declaration of Rights
• 12 amendments were proposed in
September of 1789
• The Bill of Rights was ratified by the
states in December 1791
– 10 of the 12 proposed amendments