Post on 24-Feb-2016
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Lesson 8.3: Ratifying the Constitution
Today’s Essential Question: What difficulties had to be overcome during the
ratification of the Constitution?
Vocabulary• evaluate – to decide value or worth of
something• debate – a discussion or argument• ratify – to give support or approval for
someone else’s decision or action• ratification – the process of getting
official public approval of a new law or policy
Check for Understanding• What are we going to do today?• What is something you might evaluate?• Why is it often difficult to win a debate
with an adult?• Why is ratification important in passing
a new law?• What is a constitution?
What We Already Know
In 1787, many Americans still remembered how hard they had to fight
to protect their rights from a government that threatened their rights.
What We Already Know
When the Articles of Confederation failed to provide a government strong enough to meet
the needs of the country, state delegates met to create a new constitution and a more effective
national government.
What We Already Know
Although compromises were crafted on several issues to create a new
constitution, the various debates showed that the
delegates had strong differences of opinion
about how the government should
work.
Track with me as I read.
The men who attended the Constitutional
Convention and wrote the Constitution are
often referred to as ‘the framers of the Constitution.’
The framers suspected that the people might be afraid the Constitution would take
too much power away from the states.
James Madison, Father of the Constitution
Framers of the Constitution
explained that it was based on federalism,
meaning that the powers of
government are shared between the national government
and the state governments.
Those who supported the Constitution
became known as Federalists.
People who opposed the
Constitution were called
Antifederalists.
What is federalism?
Federalism is a system of government in which power is shared between the national
government and the state governments.
Read aloud with me:• Both Federalists and Antifederalists believed that
the government was too weak under the Articles of Confederation.
• But they disagreed over just how much power should be taken from the states and transferred to the national government.
Leading Federalists
Alexander Hamilton
John JayJames
Madison
Leading Antifederalists
George Mason Patrick Henry
Federalists and Antifederalists disagreed over how strong the national government should be.
from textbook page 235
Federalists and Antifederalists disagreed over how strong the national government should be.
from textbook page 235
Federalists and Antifederalists disagreed over how strong the national government should be.
from textbook page 235
Federalists and Antifederalists• Federalists wanted a strong central government. • They wanted the powers of government to be
divided between three branches.
• The Federalists also wanted the executive branch to be strong enough to enforce federal laws in all the states, especially the collection of taxes and tariffs.
A tariff is a tax on imported goods.
Federalists and Antifederalists
• Most Antifederalists were opposed to a strong executive branch, because they thought that a strong president might become a king.
• Some Antifederalists thought the Senate might become a powerful aristocracy.
An aristocracy is a government ruled by
wealthy nobles.
Federalists and Antifederalists• Antifederalists thought the Constitution took too
much power away from the states.• They supported states’ rights, which give the
states more power than the national government.• Antifederalists also were suspicious of the
Constitution because it contained no bill of rights.
Get your whiteboards and markers ready!
17. What was the Federalist positions on states’ rights and a strong
central government?A. Federalists felt the Articles had created a weak
government.B. Federalists believed that power should be
shared between the federal government and the states.
C. Federalists thought the Constitution took too much power away from the states.
D. Federalists were suspicious of the Constitution because it contained no bill of rights.
Choose all that are true!
17. What was the Antifederalist positions on states’ rights and a
strong central government?A. Antifederalists opposed the Constitution
because it did not create a strong executive branch.
B. Antifederalists strongly supported states' rights.
C. Antifederalists thought the Constitution took too much power away from the states.
D. Antifederalists believed a bill of rights should be added to the Constitution.
E. Antifederalists demanded a stronger federal government.
Choose all that are true!
The Federalists wrote essays to answer the Antifederalists’ attacks.
• These essays – known as The Federalist papers – were written by three well-known politicians: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay.
• These essays were published in newspapers, so all the people could read them.
• In The Federalist papers, Federalists appealed to reason and emotion, explaining why people should support ratification.
Most of the newspapers supported the Constitution, which gave the Federalists an advantage during the battle for ratification.
• Even so, there was strong opposition to ratification in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Rhode Island, New York, and Virginia.
• If some of these states failed to ratify the Constitution, the United States might not survive.
Get your whiteboards and markers ready!
18. What were The Federalist Papers?
A. the reasons for their opposition to the Constitution.
B. an interpretation of the Constitution so that the people would support it.
C. reasons why Congress should restore trade with Britain.
D. an explanation why the United States was supporting the revolution in France.
The Federalist Papers were a series of essays in support of the Constitution, written by John Jay, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton
to give . . .
19. How did the Federalists and the Antifederalists try to win support for
their sides in the debate over the Constitution?
A. They made personal attacks on the reputations of the men on the other side.
B. They published their views in newspapers, essays, and pamphlets.
C. They appealed to the fears and emotions of the American people.
D. They traveled through the states giving speeches.
20. What advantage did Federalists have over Antifederalists in the debate over ratification?
A. Most members of the Constitutional Convention were Federalists.
B. Most newspapers supported the Constitution, and gave the Federalists more publicity.
C. Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, was himself a Federalist.
D. All the political leaders in Virginia were supporters of the Constitution.
B tell A• What two groups fought over
ratification of the Constitution?• Be sure to re-state the question
in your response!
The Battle for Ratification• There was strong
opposition to ratification in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Rhode Island, New York, and Virginia.
• If some of these states failed to ratify the Constitution, the United States might not survive.
States began to vote on the new
Constitution.
• By June 1788, enough states had voted in favor, and the Constitution was ratified.
• Virginia, the largest state, had still not ratified it yet, however.
George Mason
Virginians Patrick Henry and George Mason
refused to support the Constitution until a bill
of rights was added.
James Madison convinced his fellow
Virginians to ratify the Constitution by
promising to see to it that a bill of rights
would be added later.Eventually, all thirteen states
ratified the Constitution.Patrick Henry
Get your whiteboards and markers ready!
George Mason Patrick Henry
21. Why did George Mason and Patrick Henry oppose the ratification of the
Constitution?
A. It did nothing to protect slavery.B. It did not contain a bill of rights.C. It gave too much power to the states.D. They were angry about not being
invited to the Annapolis Convention.
A tell B• How did James Madison convince
his fellow Virginians to support ratification?
• Be sure to re-state the question in your response!
Madison helped win ratification.
• At Virginia’s convention, James Madison suggested that Virginia ratify the Constitution, and he promised to support the addition of a bill of rights.
• The news of Virginia’s vote convinced New York to join the Union, also calling for a bill of rights.
Madison helped win ratification.
• By 1790 North Carolina and Rhode Island ratified the Constitution.
• By then, the new Congress had already written a bill of rights and submitted it to the states for approval.
The Bill of Rights
• At the same time that seven of the states ratified the Constitution, they asked that it be amended to include a bill of rights.
• Supporters of a bill of rights hoped that it would set forth the rights of all Americans.
• They believed it was needed to protect people against the power of the national government.
The Bill of Rights
• Madison, who was elected to the new Congress in the winter of 1789, took up the cause.
• He proposed a set of changes to the Constitution, and he started with freedom of religion.
• In the very first amendment, Madison addressed the issue of religious freedom.
Get your whiteboards and markers ready!
22. What is the Bill of Rights?
A. It is the first part of the Constitution.B. It protects the rights of states under
the federal government. C. It is a name for the first ten
amendments to the Constitution.D. It protects the exact same set of
freedoms as the English Bill of Rights.
23. What was the significance of the Bill of Rights?
A. It was the key to getting enough support to ensure ratification of the Constitution.
B. James Madison first gained national attention by writing them.
C. Opposition to it made friends of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.
D. It was the first set of changes made to the Articles of Confederation.
Freedom of Religion
• Both Jefferson and Madison were strong supporters of freedom of religion.
• Jefferson’s Statute for Religious Freedom had made religious freedom a right for all Virginians since 1786.
Freedom of Religion• The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
assured that “no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place or ministry whatsoever,” and that “all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion.”
• Madison’s First Amendment says that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
A tell B• What is one of your rights under the
Constitution’s Bill of Rights?• Be sure to re-state the question!
Patrick Henry was not in favor of separation of church and state.
• He was opposed to Jefferson's Statute for Religious Freedom, which Virginia had passed in 1786.
• While granting complete religious freedom to all Virginians, it also banned tax support for any religious group.
• Although strongly committed to religious freedom, Henry opposed Jefferson’s plan of total separation of church and state, and instead favored tax support of all recognized religious groups.
The Bill of Rights
• Eventually, Congress edited Madison’s list and proposed placing the amendments at the end of the Constitution in a separate section.
• The amendments went to the states for ratification.
B tell A• What leading Virginian was opposed to
the separation of church and state?• Be sure to re-state the question!
Get your whiteboards and markers ready!
24. How is Jefferson’s Statute for Religious Freedom reflected in the Bill of Rights?
It served as the basis forA. the Great Compromise. B. the First Amendment.C. the Federalist Papers.D. the Articles of
Confederation.
Federalists or Antifederalists?
Federalists Antifederalists
Feared a strong executive might become a tyrant
Feared a strong executive might become a tyrant
Federalists or Antifederalists?
Federalists Antifederalists
Wanted a bill of rights added to the Constitution
Feared a strong executive might become a tyrant
Wanted a bill of rights added to the Constitution
Federalists or Antifederalists?
Federalists Antifederalists
Wanted one person as head of the executive branch
Feared a strong executive might become a tyrant
Wanted a bill of rights added to the Constitution
Wanted one person as head of the executive
branch
Federalists or Antifederalists?
Federalists Antifederalists
Wanted the legislative branch to have most power
Feared a strong executive might become a tyrant
Wanted a bill of rights added to the Constitution
Wanted one person as head of the executive
branch
Wanted the legislative branch to have most power
Federalists or Antifederalists?
Federalists Antifederalists
Wanted the states to have less power
Feared a strong executive might become a tyrant
Wanted a bill of rights added to the Constitution
Wanted one person as head of the executive
branch
Wanted the legislative branch to have most power
Wanted the states to have less power
Federalists or Antifederalists?
Federalists Antifederalists
Wanted a stronger national government
Feared a strong executive might become a tyrant
Wanted a bill of rights added to the Constitution
Wanted one person as head of the executive
branch
Wanted the legislative branch to have most power
Wanted the states to have less power
Wanted a stronger national government
Federalists or Antifederalists?
Federalists Antifederalists
Favored a government with three branches
Feared a strong executive might become a tyrant
Wanted a bill of rights added to the Constitution
Wanted one person as head of the executive
branch
Wanted the legislative branch to have most power
Wanted the states to have less power
Wanted a stronger national government
Favored a government with three branches
Federalists or Antifederalists?
Federalists Antifederalists
Wanted states to have the most political power
Feared a strong executive might become a tyrant
Wanted a bill of rights added to the Constitution
Wanted one person as head of the executive
branch
Wanted the legislative branch to have most power
Wanted the states to have less power
Wanted a stronger national government
Favored a government with three branches
Wanted states to have the most political power