Jonah Patel
The ratification of the US Constitution in 1787 was a highly contested affair, with several leaders opposing it. The supporters of the Constitution were called Federalists, and they included renowned patriots, intellectuals, war veterans, and state politicians. The opposition, known as Anti-Federalists, was composed of small farmers, landowners, shopkeepers, and labourers. The Anti-Federalists believed that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government, threatening individual liberties and state sovereignty. They were also concerned about the absence of a Bill of Rights. Notable Anti-Federalists included Patrick Henry, George Mason, and Samuel Adams, who fought against ratification in their respective states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Leaders of the Anti-Federalists | Patrick Henry, George Mason, Samuel Adams, Elbridge Gerry, Edmund Randolph, George Clinton |
| Supporters of the Anti-Federalists | Small farmers and landowners, shopkeepers, and laborers |
| Arguments against the Constitution | Too much power in the hands of Congress, unitary president resembled a monarch, liberties of the people were best protected under state governments, absence of a Bill of Rights |
| States that opposed ratification | Massachusetts, Virginia, New York, Rhode Island, North Carolina |
| Federalist leaders | Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin |
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What You'll Learn
Patrick Henry's opposition
Patrick Henry was an outspoken opponent of the ratification of the US Constitution. He was a prominent Anti-Federalist, a group that favoured strong state governments, a weak central government, the direct election of government officials, and the strengthening of individual liberties. Henry's opposition to the Constitution was driven by several factors. Firstly, he feared the creation of a powerful central government that resembled a monarchy. He believed that the unitary executive, the president, would have too much power and that this would threaten the liberties of the people. Henry argued that the powers of the states were being ignored and that the liberties of the people were best protected when power resided in state governments rather than a federal one.
Henry's distrust in a strong federal government was influenced by his experiences under the Articles of Confederation, where he witnessed the national government take actions that betrayed his interests and those of his state, Virginia. For example, he was outraged by the Jay-Gardoqui Treaty, which would have ceded exclusive navigation on the Mississippi River to Spain for 25 years, benefiting the Northern states at the expense of the South.
In addition to his concerns about centralisation of power, Henry also opposed the ratification of the Constitution because it lacked a Bill of Rights. He believed that a Bill of Rights was necessary to protect the liberties of citizens and prevent government overreach. Henry's stance on this issue was so strong that he was willing to propose that Virginia separate from the rest of the states to form its own sovereign nation.
Henry's opposition to the ratification of the Constitution was not without consequence. As the most powerful figure in the Virginia legislature, he used his influence to shape the federal government according to his vision of a just republic. He appointed senators and designated legislative districts to favour his allies and disadvantage his opponents, such as James Madison, who opposed the inclusion of a Bill of Rights. Despite Henry's efforts, the Virginia Convention ultimately voted in favour of ratifying the Constitution, influenced by assurances that a Bill of Rights would be added.
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The Three Dissenters
The Anti-Federalists believed that the new Constitution consolidated too much power in Congress and the unitary president, resembling a monarchy. They argued that the liberties of the people were best protected when power resided in state governments, rather than a federal one. They also believed that without a Bill of Rights, the federal government would become tyrannous.
The Anti-Federalists were composed of diverse elements, including small farmers, landowners, shopkeepers, and laborers. They favored strong state governments, a weak central government, the direct election of government officials, short term limits for officeholders, and the strengthening of individual liberties. They were led by Patrick Henry of Virginia, who opposed ratification and argued that the position of president might evolve into a monarchy.
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The Anti-Federalists' influence
The Anti-Federalists were a late-18th-century political movement that opposed the creation of a stronger US federal government and later opposed the ratification of the 1787 Constitution. Led by Patrick Henry of Virginia, they believed that the new Constitution consolidated too much power in the hands of Congress, at the expense of states' rights. They also criticised the absence of a Bill of Rights, arguing that the Constitution did not adequately protect individual liberties.
The Anti-Federalists believed that the unitary president resembled a monarch and that this resemblance would eventually produce courts of intrigue in the nation's capital. They also believed that the liberties of the people were best protected when power resided in state governments, as opposed to a federal one. They wanted a more decentralised form of government with greater protections for individual rights and stronger representation for the states.
The Anti-Federalists' opposition to ratifying the Constitution was a powerful force in the origin of the Bill of Rights to protect Americans' civil liberties. Their opposition was an important factor leading to the adoption of the First Amendment and the other nine amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights. The Anti-Federalists played a significant role in shaping the Bill of Rights, which was added to the Constitution to address their concerns about the protection of individual liberties.
The Anti-Federalists included small farmers and landowners, shopkeepers, and labourers. They were composed of diverse elements, including those who opposed the Constitution because they thought it threatened the sovereignty and prestige of the states, localities, or individuals. Some saw in the proposed government a new centralized and "monarchic" power in disguise that would replicate the cast-off governance of Great Britain. Others simply feared that the new government threatened their personal liberties.
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Federalist Papers' impact
The Federalist Papers were a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pseudonym "Publius". They were written in defence of the US Constitution and in response to the Anti-Federalists, who opposed the ratification of the 1787 Constitution. The Federalist Papers articulated arguments in favour of ratification and addressed Anti-Federalist concerns.
The Federalist Papers had a significant impact on the ratification of the Constitution. They provided a detailed explanation of the proposed Constitution and offered a strong defence of the need for a strong central government. The papers also addressed the concerns of the Anti-Federalists, who feared that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government at the expense of states' rights and individual liberties. The Federalist Papers argued that the checks and balances built into the Constitution would prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.
The Federalist Papers were widely circulated and influenced public opinion. They were published in newspapers and pamphlets and were distributed across the country. The essays were also discussed in public meetings and played a key role in shaping the debate around ratification. The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, used the Federalist Papers as a tool to build support for ratification and counter the arguments of the Anti-Federalists.
The impact of the Federalist Papers can be seen in the eventual ratification of the Constitution by the required nine out of thirteen states. The papers helped to sway public opinion in favour of ratification and convinced some wavering delegates to support the Constitution. The inclusion of a Bill of Rights, which was a key demand of the Anti-Federalists, was also influenced by the Federalist Papers. James Madison, one of the authors of the Federalist Papers, initially opposed the inclusion of a Bill of Rights but later changed his position and took the lead in drafting the amendments.
Overall, the Federalist Papers played a crucial role in shaping the debate around the ratification of the Constitution and helped to build support for the document. The papers provided a detailed defence of the Constitution and addressed the concerns of those who opposed it. The ultimate ratification of the Constitution, despite strong opposition, can be partly attributed to the influence and impact of the Federalist Papers.
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George Washington's support
George Washington was a key figure in the ratification of the Constitution. He was a nationalist from the beginning of the Revolution, and his country was America, not his home state of Virginia. He believed that a strong union of the states was necessary for the future of the country.
In 1787, Washington's concerns about the disintegration of the nation prompted him to serve as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. He was unanimously elected president of the convention, and his support was instrumental in achieving the ratification of the newly proposed Constitution. Washington rarely spoke during debates, but his opinions were the subject of much speculation. Federalists readily used his image and influence to support the ratification of the Constitution.
Washington's letter of 17 September 1787, as president of the Convention, to the president of Congress, was attached to the Constitution whenever it was printed. The letter stated, "the Constitution, which we now present, is the result of a spirit of amity and of that mutual deference and concession which the peculiarity of our political situation rendered indispensable." This letter was written by Gouverneur Morris but signed by Washington. Washington also wrote a private letter to Charles Carter of Virginia, in which he briefly expressed his opinion on the Constitution.
Washington's support for the Constitution was widely known and had a strong influence. He privately argued for ratification, explaining to Anti-Federalist Patrick Henry that "it is the best constitution that can be obtained...and...this, or a dissolution of the union awaits our choice." He also wrote to Lafayette, expressing the importance of the outcome of the struggle over ratification for the future of the nation. Washington's faith in the Constitution convinced some wavering delegates to support it.
Washington's election as the first president of the United States under the new Constitution further solidified his support for the document. He was reluctant to take on the role, but he agreed because he believed it would help cement support for the new government.
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Frequently asked questions
The Anti-Federalists were a political movement in the late 18th century who opposed the creation of a stronger US federal government and later opposed the ratification of the 1787 Constitution. They believed that the position of president might evolve into a monarchy and that the national government would be too powerful, threatening individual liberties and state sovereignty.
The Anti-Federalists believed that the Constitution concentrated too much power in the federal government at the expense of states' rights and individual liberties. They also criticised the absence of a Bill of Rights.
Patrick Henry, George Mason, and Samuel Adams were prominent Anti-Federalists who argued against the ratification of the Constitution. Other Anti-Federalists included Elbridge Gerry, Edmund Randolph, and New York Governor George Clinton.
While the Anti-Federalists were ultimately unsuccessful in preventing the adoption of the Constitution, their efforts were not in vain. Their influence helped lead to the enactment of the Bill of Rights, which included 10 amendments that guaranteed fundamental freedoms such as speech, religion, and the press, as well as protections against government overreach.
