Chapter 4, Lesson 2 The Ratification Debate

Objective

• Understand the basic arguments of the Federalists and Antifederalists.

• For and Against the ratification

Ratification

• Ratification- Noun

• To Ratify- to sign in agreement.

• After the Federal Convention released...

• Each state received a copy of the Constitution to approve.

• George Washington approved it.

• But, this was not enough to persuade people in each state.

The Debate Goes Public

Federal

• A system of government in which the central government shares authority with the states.

• Central government

• People who supported the constitution were called Federalists.

Federalist Party Logo

Alexander Hamilton

• Started the Federalist party

• Wrote the majority of the Federalist pamphlets

• These defended the Constitution

• Second person in charge of the National Treasury

James Madison

• The person who wrote almost the entire Constitution.

• Also wrote the Bill of Rights.

• (More on this later...)

• Only Federalist president

• 4th President of the United States

John Jay

• Helped write and make many Federalist pamphlets

• He was also with Benjamin Franklin when he signed the Treaty of Paris.

George Washington

• First President

• Supported the Federalists

• Virginia

• Very much disliked the Constitution

• Without a Bill of Rights.

• Many people felt this way

Patrick Henry

Antifederalist

• Wanted their rights to be guaranteed

• Looked to the English Bill of Rights

• Why did the Framers chose to leave out a bill of rights

Antifederalist

• They also questioned the legality of the whole entire meeting.

• How could people just meet without telling anyone?

• Create an entirely new document

• Change the whole New World

Antifederalist

• They began to publish their fears and questions

• People started to question the Constitution.

The Race Was On!

The Federalist Papers

Arguments in favor of Constitution