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Ratification of the Constitution
When was the last time you successfully changed anyone’s mind about anything?
Or even gotten a small group of people to agree on what movie to see?
Now try to imagine this. Fifty-five men getting together in Philadelphia one muggy summer in
1787, trying to create a nation. Now imagine that most of them were lawyers. Well, that’s what
it was like. And it would take 3 ½ months of quarreling and compromise. But somehow those
men managed to hammer out the framework for our nation’s Constitution. Pretty soon there
were some basic questions in the room about the very things they had fought so hard for.
Freedom and power. It wasn’t so long ago that colonists had won their freedom from the king
of England. So no one was in a hurry to hand over too much power to any government, even
their own. And wouldn’t a stronger central government mean weaker individual states?
Ultimately, those 55 delegates came up with a brilliant compromise. A balance between federal
power and states’ rights that still hangs delicately today. And as for how the government should
actually be set up, well, they settled on the remarkable idea of dividing it into three branches.
The legislative, executive, and the judiciary. When it was all over, these men forged a
document that defined a country, complete with built-in checks and balances designed to
keep everyone honest.
But the document wasn’t perfect. For all its promise of freedom and justice, it included
compromises, like slavery, that would take years, even bloodshed, to resolve. Some critics
felt it also overlooked some crucial fundamental rights. The first 10 amendments, called the
Bill of Rights, took care of that. However imperfect the document, it begins with three perfect
words. “We, the People.”
For over 200 years, presidents, lawyers, senators, judges, politicians, and protestors have been
examining the “We” in “We, the People.” Pulling at it, trying to get it to expand or contract, and
in doing so, shaping the character of our nation.
Characters:
John Jay, a citizen of New York and a Federalist
Elbridge Gerry, a delegate from Massachusetts and an Anti-Federalist
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jay: Mr. Gerry, I humbly request that you reconsider your reasons for not supporting this
Constitution.
Gerry: But Mr. Jay, I cannot stand by it! I cannot sign my name to a document that does not
secure the rights of every American.
Jay: But we are accounting for that. We will have a chance to amend the Constitution.
Gerry: Yes, but should free people adopt a form of government that they believe needs
amendment? This document is unacceptable!
Jay: This document is as good as we can make it. Tell me Mr. Gerry, do you think it is possible
to come up with a better plan? We cannot please everyone. I say that delaying the
ratification of this Constitution will put our country at great risk.
Gerry: I know, you believe that our enemies will see our indecision as weakness, and our
creditors may stop lending to us. But isn’t personal freedom important, too?
Jay: We have been meeting for such a long time. What if we reject this Constitution? Would we
ever be able to come up with something better?
Gerry: What do you suggest we do?
Jay: I believe we should ratify the Constitution, give it a fair amount of time to work for the
people, and fix it as time, occasion, and experience may dictate. What do you suggest we
do, Mr. Gerry?
Gerry: I believe we should add a bill of rights that secures the liberties of the American people.
It pains me to disagree so strongly with those who signed, but I sincerely believe that the
American people deserve to have their rights protected.
Jay: Well, Mr. Gerry, we are putting this decision in the hands of the American people.
Gerry: Indeed, and I sincerely hope that whatever Constitution is finally adopted will secure the
liberty and happiness of America.
Name ________________________________________________________ Date ____________
Chapter 7 Section 4 - Ratification and the Bill of Rights
FEDERALISTS DEBATE ANTIFEDERALISTS (pages 215-216)
 The framers had set up a process for the states to approve the new government. At least _____ of the
______ states had to ratify the Constitution before it could go into effect.
 Voters in each state elected _______________________ to special state conventions. These people would
decide whether or not to ratify the Constitution.
 Supporters of the Constitution called themselves ____________________________ because they favored
a strong federal (national) government.
 People who opposed the Constitution were called ___________________________________.
Directions: Explain the Federalists’ Position on the Constitution (pages 215-216)
FEDERALISTS (write 4)
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Directions: Explain the Anti-Federalists’ Position on the Constitution (page 216)
ANTI-FEDERALISTS (write 3)
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KEY ISSUE: NEED FOR A BILL OF RIGHTS (page 216)
 The chief objection of the Anti-federalists was that the Constitution had no ___________ of
____________________.
 Federalists replied that it was impossible to list all the natural ______________________ of people.
THE STATES VOTE TO RATIFY (pages 216-217)
 ____________________ led the way, ratifying on December 7, 1787. ___________________________
and __________________________________ soon followed.
 In Massachusetts, Sam Adams & John Hancock recommended adding a ____________ of
_________________ to the Constitution. In February 1788, Mass. became the _____ state to ratify.
 In June, _____________ ________________________________ joined ranks as the ninth state. The new
government could now go into effect.
 _______________________ voted to ratify in late June. New York ratified in _________________ 1788.
________________ ______________________ followed in November 1789. On May 29, 1790,
_____________________ _____________________ became the last state to ratify.
ADDING A BILL OF RIGHTS (pages 217-218)
 Americans voted in the first election under the Constitution in January ___________. As expected,
__________________________ ___________________________________ was elected President, while
___________________ ____________________________ was chosen as Vice President.
 The first Congress met in ________ ________________, which was chosen as the nation’s first capital.
Congress quickly wanted to add a ____________________ of _____________________ since several
states agreed to ratify ONLY if one was added.
 The framers made the process of ____________________(changing) the Constitution fairly difficult.
 By 1789, the 1st Congress proposed 12 amendments. By December 1791, ____/____ of the states had
ratified 10 of the 12 amendments. These amendments became known as the __________ of
___________________.
 The Bill of Rights, according to James Madison, prevents the ____________________________ from taking
away the natural rights of human beings.
 With the Bill of Rights in place, the new framework of government was complete. Over time, the
Constitution became a living document that grew and ___________________ along with the nation.