Federalists: The Constitution's Biggest Supporters

The US Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to approve it. The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, believed that a centralized republic was the best solution for the future. They were in favor of a strong central government and a supreme power capable of exercising necessary authority. Smaller states, like Delaware, Connecticut, and New Jersey, also favored the Constitution as equal representation in the Senate would give them a degree of equality with larger states, and a strong national government with an army at its command would be better able to defend them. On the other hand, Anti-Federalists, those who opposed the Constitution, argued that it mirrored the old corrupt and centralized British regime and that a powerful national government would violate natural rights and civil liberties.

Explore related products

Ratification: The People Debate the Constitution, 1787-1788

$13.2 $24

Federalists and Antifederalists: The Debate Over the Ratification of the Constitution (Constitutional Heritage Series)

$35.48 $50

The Debate on the Constitution : Federalist and Antifederalist Speeches, Articles, and Letters During the Struggle over Ratification : Part One, September 1787-February 1788 (Library of America)

$32.82 $42.5

The Federalist Papers (Dover Thrift Editions: American History)

$6.46 $8

The Debate on the Constitution: Federalist and Anti-Federalist Speeches, Articles, and Letters During the Struggle over Ratification 1787-1788 ( Complete )

$15

An Anti-Federalist Constitution: The Development of Dissent in the Ratification Debates (American Political Thought)

$27.3 $42.99

Smaller states

The smaller states' support for the Constitution was reflected in the quicker ratification of states like Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. Delaware, for example, ratified the Constitution on December 7, 1787, with 30 votes for and 0 against. New Jersey and Delaware ratified the document within a few months of receiving it in 1787, while Connecticut ratified it early in 1788.

The smaller states' support for the Constitution was also evident in the New Jersey Resolutions proposed by delegate William Paterson. These resolutions called for a revision of the Articles to enable Congress to more easily raise revenues and regulate commerce, reflecting a preference for a federal union over a powerful central government.

The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, included many smaller state governments that were open to the idea of a stronger federal government. They believed that a large republic would counterbalance various political interest groups vying for power. James Madison, a leading Federalist, argued that extending the size of the republic would make the country less vulnerable to separate factions.

The smaller states' preference for ratification was in contrast to the initial reluctance of larger states like New York and Virginia, which were hesitant to relinquish their power under the Articles of Confederation.

Commercial interests

In the years leading up to the drafting of the Constitution, the United States was governed by thirteen separate entities, with each state legislature controlling its own commerce. This led to the enactment of laws that favored debtors over creditors and the erection of trade barriers that hindered interstate commerce. The lack of centralized control over commerce also meant that the federal Congress was unable to negotiate credible trade agreements with foreign powers, limiting their ability to open markets for American goods.

The Commerce Clause in the new Constitution addressed these issues by granting Congress the power "to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes." This allowed for the creation of a free trade zone among the states and enabled the president and Congress to negotiate and approve treaties to expand American access to foreign markets.

The ratification of the Constitution was also supported by "men of property," creditors, and those who believed that the Articles of Confederation were inadequate. The Constitution's Contracts Clause further addressed economic concerns by barring states from "impairing the obligation of contracts," providing additional protections for creditors' rights.

The support of commercial interests was an important factor in the ratification debate, reflecting the economic motivations behind the push for a strong central government.

Men of property

The United States Constitution was drafted in 1787 and sent to the states for approval. The architects of the new national government, known as Federalists, supported the Constitution and favoured a strong central government. They faced opposition from Anti-Federalists, who preferred stronger individual states. The Federalists believed that a centralized republic was the best solution for the future.

Among the supporters of the Constitution were men of property, who were likely wealthy aristocrats and creditors. These men of property were in favour of the Constitution because they believed that the Articles of Confederation were inadequate. They also had commercial interests in mind and were supportive of the idea of a strong central government.

The men of property who supported the Constitution were likely wealthy individuals who wanted to protect their economic interests. They may have been creditors or individuals with commercial interests who believed that a strong central government would provide more stability and protect their financial assets. At the time, only white male adult property owners could vote in most states, with New Jersey being an exception, allowing women to vote on the same basis as men.

The support of men of property for the Constitution was important because they represented a significant portion of the voting population. They also likely had economic influence and social standing, which could have helped sway public opinion in favour of the Constitution. The Federalists, including influential figures such as Alexander Hamilton, worked to convince the public of the benefits of a strong central government.

The debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists was passionate, with both sides publishing their arguments in newspapers across the country. The Anti-Federalists argued that the Constitution would lead to a centralized government controlled by wealthy aristocrats, undermining the power of local state elites. They also criticized the absence of a bill of rights, a concern shared by Thomas Jefferson, who corresponded with John Adams about the ratification.

Explore related products

The Debate on the Constitution : Federalist and Antifederalist Speeches, Articles and Letters During the Struggle over Ratification, Part Two: January to August 1788 (Library of America)

$35.99 $42.5

The Debate on the Constitution: Federalist and Anti-Federalist Speeches, Articles, and Letters During the Struggle over Ratification 1787-1788: A Library of America Boxed Set

$79.05 $85

The Anti-Federalist: Writings by the Opponents of the Constitution

$32.67

The Federalist Papers Book: Promote The Ratification Of The United States Constitution

$9.99

The Federalist

$24.28 $30

The Framework of the Federalist: Visualizing the Structure of the Argumentation

$20

Creditors

The process of ratifying the U.S. Constitution was long and arduous. The draft constitution was finished in September 1787, and it was agreed that the document would not be binding until its ratification by nine of the 13 existing states. The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware on December 7, 1787, followed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution in the summer of 1788, and the Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States on June 21, 1788. The last state to ratify was Rhode Island, on May 29, 1790.

The ratification process was not certain, and passions in the states were high. Supporters of the Constitution, known as Federalists, faced opposition from Anti-Federalists, who argued that the Constitution appeared to mimic the old corrupt and centralized British regime and that it did not contain a bill of rights. The Federalists, including influential figures such as Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, campaigned for ratification through essays, debates, and newspapers. They argued that a centralized republic provided the best solution for the future and that a strong national government was necessary for stability.

The division between Federalists and Anti-Federalists was not solely based on ideology but also on the size and power of the states. Smaller, less populous states, such as Delaware and New Jersey, generally favored ratification, as they sought the protection of a strong federal government and equal representation in the Senate. On the other hand, larger states, such as New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia, were initially reluctant to ratify, as they had significant power to lose and disliked the prospect of having to provide tax money to support the new government.

The ratification of the U.S. Constitution was a significant moment in the country's history, shaping the future of the nation and the role of the federal government. The process involved intense debates, passionate citizens, and the careful consideration of the states, ultimately leading to the establishment of a new form of government.

Federalists

Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay were influential in getting states like New York to ratify the Constitution. They wrote a series of 85 essays under the pseudonym "Publius" published in several New York newspapers, known as "The Federalist Papers". The first of these Federalist essays was published in a New York newspaper, under the pseudonym Publius, on October 27, 1787. It was addressed to the people of New York but was aimed at the delegates to the state’s Ratifying Convention. In it, Hamilton described the meaning of the choice the states would make:

> It seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force.

The Federalists were building momentum toward the nine states they needed to win, but they knew the main opposition would come from Anti-Federalists in large and powerful states, including Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia. The Federalists thought they did not have enough votes to ratify in New Hampshire, so they strategically adjourned the convention until June. The Federalists knew that smaller, less populous states favored the Constitution and the protection of a strong federal government. Delaware and New Jersey ratified the document within a few months after it was sent to them for approval in 1787. Connecticut ratified it early in 1788.

The Federalists' arguments, along with explicit guarantees that amendments would be added to protect individual liberties, helped to sway delegates to ratification conventions in many states.

Frequently asked questions