Ratification of the U.S. Constitution

Background

• September 1787: Constitution completed, ready for ratification.
• Ratification requirement: Needed approval by nine of the thirteen states.
• Timeframe for Ratification:
  • Over a year and a half for 11 states to ratify.
  • Nearly two and a half years for all 13 states to ratify.

Emerging Groups

• Federalists:
  • Supported ratification.
  • Advocated for a strong central/national government.
  • Mostly wealthy businessmen from large trading cities along the coast.
  • Key figures: Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, John Marshall.
  • Published the "Federalist Papers" under the pseudonym "Publius" to explain the Constitution.
• Anti-Federalists:
  • Opposed ratification.
  • Feared a strong central government akin to a monarchy.
  • Wanted a Bill of Rights added to ensure freedoms won during the Revolution.
  • Less organized, consisted of common people from both cities and countryside.
  • Key figures: John Adams, Samuel Adams, George Clinton, Patrick Henry.

Ratification Process

• Initial state votes:
  • In favor: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut (5 states).
  • Opposed: Remaining 8 states.
• Realizations and actions:
  • Federalists realized they needed a Bill of Rights to get other states to ratify.
  • After promising the addition of the Bill of Rights, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, and New Hampshire voted in favor, bringing the count to 9 states.
  • Constitution went into effect in those nine states but wasn’t fully ratified for the entire country yet.
• Key states' ratification:
  • Important states Virginia and New York had not yet ratified.
  • Efforts to convince states:
    • Virginia: Convincing by George Washington, Edmund Randolph, and James Madison.
    • New York: Focused efforts by Alexander Hamilton.
  • Summer 1788: Virginia and New York ratified, bringing total to 11 states.
  • Eventually, North Carolina and Rhode Island also ratified.

Review

• Federalists:
  • For ratification.
  • Felt the Constitution was complete.
  • Advocated for a strong central government.
  • Wealthy businessmen.
  • Key figures: Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, John Marshall.
• Anti-Federalists:
  • Against ratification.
  • Feared a strong central government.
  • Wanted a Bill of Rights.
  • Mostly common people.
  • Key figures: John Adams, Samuel Adams, George Clinton, Patrick Henry.
• Outcome: Anti-Federalists' demand for a Bill of Rights prevailed, leading to its addition to the Constitution.