Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

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Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

• Thomas Jefferson Alexander Hamilton
• Anti-Federalist Federalist

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February, 1787

• Congress of the Confederation called on all 13
  states to send delegates to a federal convention.
• The purpose of the convention was to revise the
  Articles of Confederation

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Delegates

• A person who is authorized to act as a
  representative for others

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Who were some of the delegates?

• George Washington
• Had retired to Mt. Vernon estate at the end of
  the Revolutionary War
• Age 55still one of the best known and most
  respected men in America.
• Over six feet tall and weighed 210 pounds
• He served as President of the convention but did
  not often participate in the debate.

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Benjamin Franklin

• Age 81
• Senior statesman of the convention
• Writer, scientist, inventor and diplomat
• Missed some of the sessions due to health.
• Known as a conciliator during the debates.
• Conciliator- A person who settles disputes or
• restores friendships.

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James Madison

• Known as Father of the Constitution.
• Floor leader of the Convention.
• Very well educated.
• Took detailed notes.
• Spoke very softly.
• 36 years old at the timeonly 54

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Alexander Hamilton

• Brilliant Lawyer and influential in New York
  politics.
• 32 years oldhad served as Washingtons secretary
  during the Revolutionary War.
• Wanted a strong national government.
• Thought we should have one President chosen for
  life.

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What were the delegates like as a whole?

• Average age was 43.
• ½ were lawyers
• Many were politicians, merchants, plantation
  owners, doctors, college presidents and college
  professors.

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Who was not there?

• Patrick Henry refused to participate because he
  "smelt a rat in Philadelphia, tending toward the
  monarchy.
• Thomas Jefferson was serving as Minister to
  France.
• John Adams was serving as Minister to England
• John Hancock and Samuel Adams were busy with
  local and business...Adams not selected to
  continue as a delegate. They did not expect a new
  Constitution.

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Groups not represented

• Women- Abigail Adams wrote
• I desire you would remember the ladies,
• and be more generous to them than your
• ancestors.
• Free Africans and Native Americans lacked
  political rights.
• White males without property lacked rights as
  well.

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Rhode Island

• Chose to boycott the convention as they felt
• it would take states rights away.
• Boycott- to avoid using, buying or dealing with
  as a means of protest.

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Opening of the Convention

• Quorum- The minimum number of members
• who must be present for the valid
• transaction of business. (May 25, 1787)
• 9 states

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George Washington

• George Washington was unanimously elected
  president of the convention.

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Some numbers

• Framers met 89 of the 116 days from May
  25-September 17th.
• An average of 40 of the 55 delegates attended
  daily sessions.
• Decided that all debate would be in secret.

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By May 30th

• In just five days into the convention, it was
  decided that rather than revise the Articles of
  Confederation, the delegates would write a
  completely new Constitution.

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Two sides emerge

• Federalists- Led by James Madison and
• Alexander Hamilton. These framers were
• pro-constitution and believed that a more
• powerful central government was needed.
• Anti-Federalists- Led by Patrick Henry, John
• Hancock and Samuel Adams. Felt too much
• power was given to the central government
• and not enough to the states.

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The Virginia Plan

• 3 Branches
• Bicameral legislature with each house
  representation based either upon the states
  population or how much money it gave in support
  of the central government.
• Gave strong power to the central government
  including the power to enforce decisions.

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The New Jersey Plan

• Smaller states response to the Virginia Plan
• Called for a Unicameral, one house, government
  with all states represented equally.
• Called for a weak central government that was
  based upon the states determining the fate of
  the central government.

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Politics The Art of Compromise

• The Connecticut Compromise- Congress would
• be composed of 2 houses. The smaller of the two,
• The Senate, where the states would be
• represented equally. The larger, The House of
• Representatives, would be based upon a states
• population.
• The Three-Fifths Compromise- Southerners
• wanted slaves counted in the population,
  Northerners did
• not. They settled on slaves being counted as 3/5
  a person.

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A new national government

• The framers quickly determined it would be best
  to establish a new national government that would
  consist of a supreme Legislative, Executive and
  Judicial branches.

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Politics The Art of Compromise

• The Connecticut Compromise- Congress would
• be composed of 2 houses. The smaller of the two,
• The Senate, where the states would be
• represented equally. The larger, The House of
• Representatives, would be based upon a states
• population.
• The Three-Fifths Compromise- Southerners
• wanted slaves counted in the population,
  Northerners did
• not. They settled on slaves being counted as 3/5
  a person.

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The Federalist Papers

• 85 essays written by
• Alexander Hamilton,
• James Madison and
• John Jay. Set out
• arguments for the new
• Constitution in an effort
• to get the New York
• legislature to ratify it.
• One of the most
• important literary
• works in US history.

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Ratification of the Constitution

• The Constitution was approved by the delegates on
  September 17, 1787. It was sent to the states for
  ratification on September 28, 1787.

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Inauguration of the New Government

• The new Congress convened on March 4, 1789.
• It would meet to count electoral votes that would
  determine the first President of the United
  States.
• On April 6, by unanimous vote, George Washington
  is elected our first President.