Ratifying the Constitution
As you read this section (145-149), fill out the chart below with information about the people and ideas involved in the
debate over the ratification of the Constitution.
1. Who were the most important Federalists?
Identify individuals and groups.
 GW, Madison, Hamilton, John Jay, ben Franklin
 Merchants, skilled workers, urban workers, residents
of small states & states with weak economies
2. Who were the most important Antifederalists? Identify
individuals and groups.
 Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Richard Henry Lee
 Rural residents, large states & states with strong
economies
3. What were Federalist reasons for supporting ratification?
 Needed strong national gov’t to provide leadership &
order
 Control trade & help small state residents compete
with large economically successful states
4. What were Antifederalist reasons for opposing
ratification?
 Feared a strong national government would abuse
power
 Add to tax burden, restrict freedoms that helped bring
them financial success
 Concerned over a lack of a bill of rights
Which rights does each of the following constitutional amendments in the Bill of Rights protect?
1. First Amendment
 Guarantee rights to freedom of religion, speech, the
press and political activity
2. Second & Third Amendment
 Right to bear arms as members of a militia of citizensoldiers & prevent gov’t from housing troops in private
homes in peacetime
3. Fourth through Eighth Amendment

Fair treatment for individuals suspected or accused of crimes
4. Ninth Amendment
 Makes it clear that people’s rights are not restricted to
just those specifically mentioned in the Constitution
5. Tenth Amendment
 Clarifies that the people & the states have all the
powers that the Constitution does not specifically give
to the national government or deny to the states
1. What were the Federalists argument for the constitution and what were the Antifederalists’ arguments
against it?
 Division of power and system of checks and balances would prevent an executive w/ too much power
 Long list of possible abuses by a strong centralized gov’t
o Serve the interests of a privileged minority & ignore the majority
o Doubted if a single gov’t could manage the entire country
o Lack of protection of individual rights
2. Why did the people of the country demand a Bill of Rights, how did the ratification of the Constitution
happen, what states had issues with ratification and how were they resolved?
 Constitution weakened the States - Guarantees people’s rights would be protected
 Started in Dec. 1787 w/ Delaware – problems in NY & VA
 VA – Richard Henry Lee (Anti.) – did not agree with putting themselves voluntarily under an absolute
ruler
 NY – John Jay/Alexander Hamilton (Fed.) – The Federalist
 NH & VA ratified helped NY and Federalist – by 1789 all ratified (except RI)
3. How does the Bill of Rights help ensure that the central government does not become too strong?
 1st eight amendments spell out the personal liberties that states requested
 9th & 10th impose general limits on the power of the federal government