Ratifying the Constitution Notes: Federalists and Anti-Federalists
America’s 1st Constitution
Problems with the Articles of Confederation
•In 1776 after the United States declared independence from
Britain, the Founding Fathers wrote the
_____________________________________.
•The Articles of Confederation were the
___________________________ for the new nation and
served as a______ or blue print to set up their
__________________________
•They intentionally designed a _______________
government so their rights could not be violated as they had
under Great Britain
There was only _____________________ of government.
A group called ______________ to make laws.
•Congress could _____________________ the laws or
charge taxes.
•________________________ showed that government
needed to change to protect the people
Constitutional Convention
•In 1787 the leaders of 12 of the 13 states called a meeting in Philadelphia (which was the national capital) to
____________ the Articles of Confederation
•They quickly realized that a __________ solution would be to _________________ constitution.
•There are several topics they must discuss including government power, individual rights, elections, taxes, and slavery.
•In general ____________________ wanted a stronger, ____________organized _________________ with a President to
enforce laws but they disagreed on how to make it happen.
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
•_________________________, a
•________________ states
delegate from Virginia, created the
Virginia Plan
•His plan included
–________________ of government
instead of just one under the Articles of
Confederation
–A __________________
(_______________) legislature
•Each state would send representatives to
the legislature. The number they would
be allowed to send depended on the
_____________________ living in their
state
–This idea is called “proportional
representation”
•States with
__________________________________
_ like Pennsylvania and New York
__________this plan because they would
be given more power
___________ the
____________________ because it
gave them less representation in
Congress (and less of a say in their
government)
•_______________________________
of New Jersey proposed the New Jersey
Plan
–Like the Virginia Plan it called for
three branches of government
–It differed however on representation
–Congress would be
________________ (only ___ house)
and each state would receive two
representatives
–It made small states equal to states
with larger populations.
Great/Connecticut Compromise
•____________________________
of Connecticut drafted the
________________________
–Like both the Virginia and New
Jersey Plans the Connecticut Plan
called for __________________ of
government
–Like the Virginia Plan it called for
a _______________legislature
•The lower house,
____________________________,
would have the number of
representatives based on states’
_________
•The upper house, the
___________________, would give
each states
____________________
Ratification (approval) Process
•Before the new United States Constitution could be used it had to be sent to the states so they could agree on the changes
being made to the government.
•_____________of the original _________________ states had to ___________to the Constitution for it to take effect.
•Many people disagreed on what to do about the new Constitution. Two groups quickly developed; the ____________
________________ the Constitution and wanted it to be_______________ while the ___________________ __________
the Constitution and did not support its approval.
Federalists
•_________________________, Alexander Hamilton, and
John Jay were all Federalists
•They believed in a strong ___________________________
•They published their ideas in essays called
____________________to convince people to ratify the
Constitution
•They did ______think a ______________________ was
____________________
–The Constitution already included rights
–People could simply _________________ a different
leader if they were unhappy with the President
–Listing specific rights could exclude new rights later on
Anti-Federalists
•____________________________________________ the
Constitution because they felt it gave the national
government ______________________________ and took
too much power from the states
•They believed in ________________________ and
believed the government should be
____________________________
–Thought people should _____________________ all
government officials
•Anti-Federalists were very ______________________ the
Constitution did not include a _____________________
–They thought if specific rights were not listed the
government would violate them
–The Anti-Federalists included Patrick Henry and
_______________________________
–They wrote the _________________________________ to
spread their ideas
Statement
Federalists
AntiFederalists
Wrote the Federalist Papers to promote their ideas.
Wrote the Anti-Federalists papers to respond to the Federalists papers and spread their ideas.
Power to rule should stay close to the people so it can best respond to their needs and prevent
corruption
Supported a strong national government that could make decisions for the whole nation when
necessary.
The Bill of Rights is unnecessary because many rights are already included in the Constitution
Government will be free to violate any rights that are not written down and a Bill of Rights is
necessary to protect individual freedoms.
Had a strict interpretation of the Constitution, powers and actions not included should not be allowed.
Had a loose interpretation of the Constitution in which powers and actions not included would be
allowed.
The necessary and proper clause implies that government has unlimited power. This idea is
unacceptable
The “Elastic Clause” will ensure that Congress has the proper powers it needs to carry out laws that it
makes.
Questioned ratifying the Constitution because they had concerns about a strong government that
could take power away from the people.
Held ratifying conventions to encourage people in their states to approve the Constitution.
Final Decision
•Ultimately the government created under the new US Constitution…
•Is a________________ national government
–There are _______________________ of government
–The ___________________________ allows Congress to stretch its power to make any law “_______________________
________________________ to carry out the laws they make
•__________________ the ___________of citizens
–The first ________________________ (___________________) are added to protect individual rights
–The 10th amendment says that any powers ___________________________ ____________to the___________
•Balances power between the states
–___________________will be __________________. The ______________ of Representatives will base representation
on _______________ and the __________________will have ________________ representation for each state.