Framers' Vision: Constitution Ratification Process

The process of ratifying the Constitution was a complex and contentious issue, with the Framers facing the challenge of preventing anarchy, tyranny, or the dissolution of the nation into smaller countries. They recognised that the longer the ratification process took, the more people would learn about the Constitution, and the less likely they were to succeed. The Federalists made a compromise, agreeing to draft a bill of rights in exchange for support for the Constitution. The Framers also deviated from the amendment process, requiring ratification by nine state conventions instead of legislative ratification, which reflected the practical reality that unanimous approval by the states was nearly impossible. The Constitution was ultimately ratified after democratic elections in eleven jurisdictions, with extensive debate taking place across the country.

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The Federalists made a compromise to draft a bill of rights

The Federalists wanted the Constitution to be ratified, as they believed it would save the nation from anarchy, tyranny, or dissolution into a number of small countries that would be vulnerable to Great Britain, France, or Spain. The Federalists also wanted to avoid lengthy debate, recognising that the longer the process lasted and the more people learned about the Constitution, the worse their chances of winning.

The Framers provided that the Constitution would be in force when nine state conventions had ratified it. This revolutionary provision violated the Articles, but it was a popular coup: in the end, Congress and all thirteen states peacefully accepted the process. The ratification process was followed by democratic elections in eleven jurisdictions, after extensive, robust, and open debate.

The Framers also addressed populism by ensuring that the president was selected not by individual voters but by a body of electors selected by the states. Senators were also selected by state legislators, not directly elected by voters, until the 17th Amendment was ratified in 1913.

The Constitution would be in force when nine state conventions had ratified it

The Framers selected a process of ratification by state conventions, rather than legislative ratification. This was a compromise between the Federalists and the anti-federalists, who wanted a bill of rights. The Federalists agreed that when the first Congress was held, a bill of rights would be drafted.

The Framers' process for ratifying the Constitution was controversial. The Articles required that amendments be approved unanimously by the states, but the Framers jettisoned this requirement, stating that the Constitution would be in force when nine state conventions had ratified it. This was a revolutionary provision that violated the Articles, but it was a popular coup: in the end, Congress and all thirteen states peacefully accepted the process.

The Framers recognised that the longer the process lasted and the more people learned about the Constitution, the worse their chances of winning were. There was, however, voluminous debate across the country. The Federalist Papers are the best-known example of the massive amount of Federalist constitutional analysis that took place.

The Framers offered the nation one last chance to avoid anarchy, tyranny, or the dissolution of the nation into a number of small countries that would have been vulnerable to Great Britain, France, or Spain. The nation accepted the offer, and the states deferred to Congress on the ratification process. By early January, five states had ratified, and on June 25, Virginia gave the Constitution its tenth ratification. A month later, New York became the eleventh pillar of the federal edifice. Congress immediately accepted the work of the Framers, which was ratified after democratic elections in eleven jurisdictions following extensive, robust, and open debate.

The Framers' end run around the process for amending the Articles

The Framers of the Constitution sought to ratify it by offering the nation one last chance to avoid anarchy, tyranny, or the dissolution of the nation into a number of small countries that would have been vulnerable to Great Britain, France, or Spain. The Federalists made a compromise that when the first Congress was held, a bill of rights would be drafted, since they needed enough support to approve the Constitution and the anti-federalists wanted a bill of rights. Three important arguments about the Constitution were placed: whether to maintain a republican government, to give national government enough power, and whether a bill of rights was needed.

The Framers offered the nation one last chance to avoid anarchy, tyranny, or the dissolution of the nation into a number of small countries that would have been vulnerable to Great Britain, France, or Spain. The nation accepted the offer, and the states deferred to Congress on the ratification process. By early January, five states had ratified, and on June 25, Virginia gave the Constitution its tenth ratification. A month later, New York became the eleventh pillar of the federal edifice. Congress immediately accepted the work of the Framers, which was ratified after democratic elections in eleven jurisdictions following extensive, robust, and open debate.

During the ratifying contest, the Framers generally sought to preempt the debate, recognising that the longer the process lasted and the more people learned about the Constitution, the worse were their chances of winning. This argument does not comport with the realities of politics or with what the Federalists actually did. To say that the Framers wanted “simply its ratification” hardly seems surprising. They wrote the Constitution to save the nation from anarchy, not to create some grand debating society. However, there was in fact voluminous debate across the country. The Federalist Papers are only the best known of the massive amount of Federalist constitutional analysis.

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The Framers' intentions to avoid anarchy, tyranny, or the dissolution of the nation

The Framers sought to preempt the debate, recognising that the longer the process lasted and the more people learned about the Constitution, the worse their chances of winning were. There was, however, voluminous debate across the country. The Federalist Papers are only the best known of the massive amount of Federalist constitutional analysis.

The Framers also addressed populism by ensuring that the president was selected not by individual voters but rather by a body of electors selected by the states. The chief executive would also have veto power over legislation. The Framers tried to insulate Congress from populist pressures, too. Before the 17th Amendment was ratified in 1913, senators were selected by state legislators, not directly elected by voters. Members of the Senate were also given longer terms of office (six years) in the hope that this would further insulate them from undue populist influence.

The Framers' address of populism

The Framers selected a process of ratification that involved special elections to choose delegates to state ratification conventions. This was a compromise between the Federalists and anti-Federalists, who wanted a bill of rights. The Federalists agreed to draft a bill of rights when the first Congress was held, in exchange for enough support to approve the Constitution.

The Framers also sought to address populism by ensuring that the president was selected not by individual voters but by a body of electors selected by the states. The chief executive was also given veto power over legislation. The Framers tried to insulate Congress from populist pressures, too. Before the 17th Amendment was ratified in 1913, senators were selected by state legislators, not directly elected by voters. Members of the Senate were also given longer terms of office (six years) to further insulate them from undue populist influence.

The Framers recognised that the longer the ratification process lasted, the more people would learn about the Constitution, and the worse their chances of winning would be. They wrote the Constitution to save the nation from anarchy, not to create some grand debating society. However, there was in fact voluminous debate across the country.

The Framers offered the nation one last chance to avoid anarchy, tyranny, or the dissolution of the nation into a number of small countries that would have been vulnerable to Great Britain, France, or Spain. The nation accepted the offer, and the states deferred to Congress on the ratification process. By early January, five states had ratified, and on June 25, Virginia gave the Constitution its tenth ratification. A month later, New York became the eleventh pillar of the federal edifice. Congress immediately accepted the work of the Framers, which was ratified after democratic elections in eleven jurisdictions following extensive, robust, and open debate.

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