US History

U.S. History Study Guide

7.13 The Struggle for Ratification Federalists and Anti-Federalists As the struggle over ratification grew under way, those favoring the constitution took the name of Federalists and labeled their opponents as the Anti-federalists. Important Federalists included: George Washington, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. Their chief concern was strengthening the national government in order to promote unity and stability. The Anti-federalists feared the Constitution gave the central government too much power and would not ratify unless there were changes made for more individual rights and more state power. The Anti- federalists included men, such as; Patrick Henry, George Mason, and Elbridge Gerry. written as a series of eighty-five newspaper articles by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, and gave further details about the Constitution and explained how it was designed to prevent the abuse of power from any direction. These essays are considered to be the best commentary on the Constitution, by those who helped write it. Bill of Rights A compromise was reached where the Federalists would include a Bill of Rights; which protected individual liberties, ensuring the federal government would not infringe on these rights. Many of the rights were in reaction to the liberties the delegates felt the British infringed upon before the Revolution and many were inspired by the writings of the Enlightenment, like most of the Constitution. Ratification By June 21, 1788, the required nine states had ratified, but the crucial states of New York and Virginia still held out. In Virginia, where George Mason and Patrick Henry opposed the Constitution, the influence of George Washington and the promise of a bill of rights finally prevailed and ratification was achieved there as well. In New York Alexander Hamilton led the fight of ratification with The Federalist Papers, the promise of a bill of rights, and the news of the Virginia’s ratification. Only North Carolina and Rhode Island still held out, but both ratified within the next 15 months. In March of 1787, George Washington was inaugurated as the nation’s first president. 7.14 Outline of the Unites States Constitution Preamble “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the The Federalist Papers The Federalists Papers

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