Debate and Ratification
Federalists and Anti-Federalists
o The constitution did not require all states to ratify
 When 9 states had approved, the constitution would become law in those states
o The Anti-Federalists
 States-rights champions, backcountry dwellers, poor farmers, paper-moneyites, and debtors
 Led by Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and Richard Henry Lee
o The Federalists
 Led by George Washington and Benjamin Franklin
 Seaboard dwellers, wealthier, more educated, organized, and controlled the press
o Key Issues Raised by the Anti-Federalists
 Penned by aristocrats, it was anti-democratic
 Freedom of the states being lost to a powerful central government
 Freedom of individuals being overrun
 The elimination of annual elections
 The formation of a new capital (D.C.)
 The creation of a standing army
 The ability of the federal government to raise taxes
 Ratification by 2/3 of states was considered dangerous
State Debate
o The Constitution was submitted to the states for debate and ratification
 In each state, Federalists and Anti-Federalists debated in state legislatures
o Smaller states were quick to ratify the Constitution, as they found it surprisingly accommodating
 Delaware, N.J., Georgia, Connecticut
o Pennsylvania was the first large state and second overall to ratify
 Anti-federalists were physically forced to the vote, to provide a legal quorum
o In Massachusetts, Anti-federalists were in the majority, and there was much debate
 Many of the A-F were appeased with the promised addition of a Bill of Rights
o Three other states soon followed suit (Maryland, S. Car., N. Hampshire)
o June 21, 1788 – the US Constitution was officially adopted
The Laggard States
o Virginia
 Despite heated debate, and beautiful speeches from some of the most prominent Americans of the day,
they approved, grudgingly, in a very close vote
o New York
 Dominated by an Anti-Federalist state legislature
 Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison wrote essays in favor of adoption
 These “Federalist Papers” were published in newspapers, and later published as a book
 New York approved the constitution by a very slim margin
o North Carolina
 Met, engaged in heated debate, and adjourned without a vote
o Rhode Island
 Did not hold a convention, rejected the Constitution by popular vote
A Victory for Conservatism
o Only about ¼ of the adult white males had elected those who drafted and approved the Constitution
o Protections had been built up against mob rule
o They remained committed to a republican ideal