Compromise And The Constitution's Ratification

The US Constitution is sometimes called a bundle of compromises because delegates had to give ground on numerous key points to create a government charter acceptable to each of the 13 states. The ratification process sparked an intense national debate between two factions: the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. The Federalists, led by men such as Alexander Hamilton, argued that the Constitution provided a necessary framework for a strong, effective central government capable of unifying the nation, protecting against foreign threats, and managing domestic affairs. The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, believed that the Constitution did not provide adequate protection for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press. One of the most contentious issues was slavery, with some delegates considering it an evil institution and others arguing that it strengthened the power of slave states. Another major issue concerned elections and who would be allowed to vote. The Connecticut Compromise, for example, balanced state sovereignty and popular sovereignty tied to actual population, reflecting a victory for small states.

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The Connecticut Compromise restructured Congress to reflect a system of representation

The Constitution was ratified on 21 June 1788 when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The Federalists, who believed in a strong central government, needed to convert at least three states. The Anti-Federalists fought hard against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had just overthrown, and it lacked a bill of rights. The ratification campaign was a nail-biter. The tide turned in Massachusetts, where the “vote now, amend later” compromise helped secure victory in that state and eventually in the final holdouts.

The Constitution, however, was still evolving. Madison introduced 17 amendments to the Constitution born from the Massachusetts Compromise, of which Congress adopted twelve on 25 September 1789, to send forth to the states for ratification. Ten of those amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on 15 December 1791. Even after the Constitution’s ratification, the U.S. did not begin to look and function remotely like it does today until several years later.

The Massachusetts Compromise led to 12 amendments being sent to the states for ratification

The Massachusetts Compromise was a solution reached between Federalists and Anti-Federalists over the ratification of the United States Constitution. The Federalists believed that a strong central government was necessary to face the nation's challenges, while the Anti-Federalists fought against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had just overthrown, and it lacked a bill of rights.

The Massachusetts Compromise, in which the states agreed to ratify the Constitution provided the First Congress considered the rights and other amendments it proposed, secured ratification and paved the way for the passage of the Bill of Rights. The Anti-Federalists agreed to support ratification, with the understanding that they would put forth recommendations for amendments should the document go into effect. The compromise helped gather enough support for the Constitution to ensure its ratification and led to the adoption of the first ten amendments, the Bill of Rights.

The Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The journey to ratification, however, was a long and arduous process.

Madison introduced 17 amendments to the Constitution born from the Massachusetts Compromise, of which Congress adopted twelve on September 25, 1789, to send forth to the states for ratification. Ten of those amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.

The Articles of Confederation governed the country until the Constitution was ratified

Alexander Hamilton led the call for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation's governing document. The Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The ratification campaign was a nail-biter. The tide turned in Massachusetts, where the "vote now, amend later" compromise helped secure victory in that state and eventually in the final holdouts.

The Great Compromise eventually passed by a single vote. Madison and Wilson won the fight over representation in the House, but they suffered a major defeat over representation in the Senate. Madison introduced 17 amendments to the Constitution, of which Congress adopted 12 on September 25, 1789, to send forth to the states for ratification. Ten of those amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were ratified on December 15, 1791.

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The Electoral College was a compromise that led to the method for selecting a president

The Constitution was ratified by Delaware on 7 December 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. The Massachusetts Compromise of February 1788 stipulated that amendments would be proposed to protect rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and press. The Electoral College was established in the Constitution as a compromise between the election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens. The Founding Fathers debated for months, with some arguing that Congress should pick the President and others insisting on a democratic popular vote. The Electoral College was a compromise that led to the method for selecting a President. Under this plan, each elector cast two votes for President; the candidate who received the most votes became the President, with the second-place finisher becoming Vice President.

The Federalists needed to convert at least three states to ratify the Constitution

The Massachusetts Compromise, reached in February 1788, stipulated that these amendments would be immediately proposed. Madison introduced 17 amendments to the Constitution born from the Massachusetts Compromise, of which Congress adopted twelve on 25 September 1789, to send forth to the states for ratification. The Connecticut Compromise also played a role in restructuring Congress to reflect the system of representation created by the Constitutional Convention.

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