Ratifying the Constitution

1
Ratifying the Constitution

• Chapter 3 Section 3

2
Do Now

• What is the purpose of government?
• Consider why governments are put in place and
  what society would be like without a government.

3
Introduction

• As the Convention ended in Philadelphia,
  delegates rushed home to begin the campaign for
  ratification.
• Each state elected a convention to vote on the
  constitution.
• Nine states had vote for document to ratify it.
• Americans debated in state legislatures, in mass
  meetings, newspapers, and in everyday
  conversations.

4
Federalists vs. Anti-federalist

• Federalists supported Constitutional
  ratification
• Name emphasized that the constitution would
  create a federal system
• Believed power should be divide among central and
  state governments.
• They hoped smaller states would understand that
  each state would keep some power
• Included large landowners, merchants, and
  artisans
• The wanted government protection and taxes on
  imports
• Farmers along the coast supported the
  Constitution which would regulate trade and
  protect prices.

5
Anti-Federalists

• Misleading name not against federalism
• Accepted the need for a national gov.
• Real issued was if central or state governments
  would have more power.
• Prominent Anti-Federalists included John Hancock,
  Patrick Henry, of Virginia, and George Clinton,
  gov. of New York, (Edmund Randolph and George
  Mason believed constitution should include a bill
  of rights)
• Sam Adams believe it impinged on the rights of
  the states
• Many were western farmers living far from coast,
  self sufficient, and believed it may foreclose
  their farms

6
The Federalist (Essays)

• Several factors worked against the
  Anti-federalists
• They complained but did not offer a solution
• Federalists were also better organized
• Federalists offered ideas in pamphlets, speeches
  and debates in state conventions.
• The Federalist 85 essays written by James
  Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay (under
  the pen name Publius)
• Published New York Newspapers before publishing
  them as the Federalist book
• Explained how the new US Constitution worked and
  why it was needed
• Even today judges, lawyers, legislators, and
  historians read the Federalist to help them
  interpret the Constitution

7
Battle for Ratification

• Federalist knew they had clear majorities in some
  states, but that larger states like New York
  would be more difficult to convince.
• Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and
  Conneticut quickly ratified the Constitution.

8
The Debate in Massachussetts

• Opponents of the Constitution held a clear
  majority at first (including John Hancock and
  Samuel Adams- both had signed Dec. of Ind.)
• Sam Adams said constitution must never infringe
  on liberty of press, right to own arms, support
  search and seizure without a warrant
• As a result federalists agreed to attach a bill
  of rights to the Constitution once it was
  ratified
• Agreed to add amendment that would support state
  rights
• This persuaded Adams to support the Constitution
• Hancock and supporters joined in because they
  said they would nominate him for president
• Final vote 187 for and 168 against

9
The Debate in Virginia

• By the end of June 1788 Maryland, South Carolina
  and New Hampshire had ratified the Constitution.
• Federalists had reached the nine states needed to
  ratify the constitution.
• New York and Virginia had not yet ratified
• Without the support of these two states many felt
  the Constitution would fail.
• George Mason and Patrick Henry argued strongly
  against ratification
• George Washington and James Madison presented the
  arguments for ratification to Virginia the
  Governor agreed
• Virginia did narrowly supported the New
  Constitution

10
New York Votes to Ratify

• 2/3 of the elected legislature were
  Anti-Federalists, including governor Clinton
• Federalist led by Hamilton and John Jay tried to
  assure others that the Constitution would not
  infringe on state rights
• Hamilton explained it had been specifically
  designed to limit tyranny.
• Federalists managed to delay the vote until New
  Hampshire and Virginia ratified the Constitution
  and the new federal gov. was now in effect
• City of New York warned state government that it
  would secede from NY and join the United States
  independently if Constitution was not ratified

11
NY Votes to Ratify Cont

• Some states did not initially ratify the
  Constitution
• We will discuss the reasons during class.

12
First Presidential Election

• George Washington was elected unopposed
• Swilling the voters?
• Federalist candidates for VP
• John Adams, former Minister to Great Britain from
  Massachusetts
• John Jay, U.S. Secretary of Foreign Affairs from
  New York
• John Rutledge, former Governor of South Carolina
• John Hancock, Governor of Massachusetts
• Samuel Hutington, Governor of Connecticut
• Benjamin Lincoln, former U.S. Secretary of War
  from Massachusetts

13
Washingtons Cabinet

• As the first president of the United States,
  George Washington established the precedent of
  appointing a cabinet.
• Neither required by law nor the Constitution,
  the cabinet consisted of political advisors to
  the president.
• Washington wisely selected
• John Adams (VP)
• Thomas Jefferson (Sec. of State)
• Hamilson (Sec. of Treasury)
• Edmund Randolph
• (Attorney General)
• Successive presidents have continued the
  tradition of selecting a cabinet, though scholars
  debate its usefulness.

14
What cabinet position is missing?