• Ratification a document has to be voted

• The Constitution would be – Presented to ratifying

– Delegates would be

• Ratification Plan – Example of Social Contract theory because people

were asked for the consent to be governed (people are sole source of political power)

Why was ratification required?

• As soon as the Constitution was

• Anti-Federalists – Stated their objections to the Constitution

• Key Anti-Federalists:– George Mason,

Where and how did Americans debate the Proposed Constitution?

• Both Federalists and Anti-Federalists

• Greatest governing power in a republic should be

What were the Key elements of the Anti-Federalists’ opposition?

• Anti-Federalists believed – Representative governments only work in small

communities

– A Large, diverse state or nation

– With a single national government uniform

What were the Key elements of the Anti-Federalists’ opposition?

• Anti-Federalist beliefs – In a large state, people would not be able

– Once government operates at a distance from the citizens

– People living in small agricultural communities best posses civic virtue because

– civic virtue works best in small homogenous communities

What were the Key elements of the Anti-Federalists’ opposition?

How did the Anti-Federalists’ philosophy shape their objections to the Constitution?

• Specific Arguments against the Constitution – President had unlimited

– Congress has the power to make any laws that

How did the Anti-Federalists’ philosophy shape their objections to the Constitution?

• Specific Arguments against the Constitution – National courts have so much power they

• Constitution did not create

Should there be a Bill of Rights?• Most used arguments in favor of Bill of Rights:

– National government did not

– National government’s powers are too general and vague (are they unlimited?)

– Nothing in the Constitution

– State Constitutions

– It was necessary to remind people of