Promises Made To Ratify The Constitution

The road to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution was a long and challenging one. The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, faced opposition from the Anti-Federalists, who demanded a bill of rights. The Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, promised amendments to protect individual rights from federal government overreach, which eventually led to the Bill of Rights. The Constitution was also ratified by states with the understanding that a bill of rights would be added, as promised by Madison. The Declaration of Independence's vision of equality and liberty was later embodied in the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, which ended slavery and guaranteed equal protection under the law. The U.S. Constitution, with its amendments and the Bill of Rights, stands as a testament to the aspirations of We the People for a more perfect union, justice, domestic tranquility, and the blessings of liberty.

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Promises of a bill of rights

The US Constitution was ratified on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to approve it, replacing the Articles of Confederation as the official framework of the US government. However, the Bill of Rights, which enumerated the fundamental freedoms of the American people, was not ratified until the end of 1791.

The road to ratification was long and challenging, with passionate debates between Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and anti-Federalists, who opposed it. The anti-Federalists' most powerful argument was the call for a bill of rights, which guaranteed individual rights and prevented the federal government from encroaching on them.

During the ratification debate in Virginia, James Madison, the principal author of the Constitution, promised that a bill of rights would be added after ratification. This assurance was crucial in securing Virginia's approval, and New York followed suit, albeit with proposed amendments. Madison's promise addressed the concerns of the anti-Federalists and ensured the Constitution's ratification.

The Bill of Rights, like the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, served as a promissory note, guaranteeing fundamental liberties and equality. It defends the majority against an overreaching federal government and protects minorities from overreaching state governments. The Supreme Court began vigorously applying the Bill of Rights against the states in the 20th century, and it continues to be a subject of debate and interpretation.

The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution, which formally ended slavery, guaranteed equal protection under the law, and granted African-American men the right to vote, further exemplified the Declaration's vision. The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, extended suffrage to women, demonstrating the enduring impact of the Declaration's promises on the evolution of American society and governance.

Federalists vs. anti-Federalists

The Federalists and anti-Federalists were two opposing political factions in the United States during the nation's early years, particularly active in the 1780s and 1790s. The Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution, while the anti-Federalists opposed it.

The Federalists believed in a strong central government and wanted to replace the Articles of Confederation, which they saw as too weak and ineffective. They argued that a more unified nation would better protect individual liberties and ensure domestic tranquility. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay were key Federalist leaders. They wrote and published "The Federalist Papers", a series of 85 essays that explained and defended the proposed new government under the Constitution.

The anti-Federalists, on the other hand, feared a strong central government and wanted to preserve states' rights. They believed that the Constitution as drafted gave too much power to the federal government at the expense of the states. They also argued that the Constitution did not adequately protect individual liberties and rights, and they demanded a bill of rights to be included. Samuel Bryan, an anti-Federalist, published the "Centinel" essays in Philadelphia's Independent Gazetteer, expressing anti-Federalist sentiments.

The ratification of the Constitution was a long and contentious process. The Federalists and anti-Federalists engaged in passionate debates across the country, with their positions widely circulated in newspapers. The Federalists narrowly won in several states, including Virginia and New York, only after promising amendments to protect individual rights. James Madison, the principal author of the Constitution, played a crucial role in reassuring anti-Federalists by promising a bill of rights, which eventually became the Bill of Rights, ratified at the end of 1791.

The Bill of Rights, like the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, can be seen as a promissory note, guaranteeing fundamental freedoms and liberties to the American people. The 14th Amendment, ratified after the Civil War, further ensured that both the federal government and the states would respect the liberties outlined in the Bill of Rights.

The Funding Act

The Act authorized the federal government to receive certificates of state war-incurred debts and issue federal securities in exchange. It essentially proposed a loan for the full amount of the said domestic debt. The Act also provided for the funding of securities issued by the Confederation into new federal issues. State governments had acquired nearly $9 million of the $27.5 million of Confederation debt outstanding in 1789. The law provided that for every $90 worth of principal turned in, there should be issued $60 worth of 6% stock and $30 of deferred interest that would bear interest after 1801. Arrears of interest were funded into 3% stock.

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Residence Act

The Residence Act of 1790, officially titled "An Act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United States", was passed on July 16, 1790, and selected a site on the Potomac River as the permanent US capital, Washington, D.C. The Act was signed into law by President George Washington, who was given the authority to decide the exact location and hire a surveyor. The capital would encompass an area of no more than "ten miles square" (16 km on each side, for a maximum area of 259 square km).

The Residence Act was part of the Compromise of 1790, brokered among James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson, the Secretary of State, wanted to pass the Residence Act, which would set the location of the nation's capital along the Potomac River, giving the South increased influence. Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury, sought passage of the Funding Act, which would allow the federal government to assume state Revolutionary War debts and gain more economic power. The two struck a deal: Jefferson would persuade Madison, who had significant influence in the House, to back Hamilton's Funding Act, and in return, Hamilton would help secure the votes needed to pass the Residence Act.

The Residence Act also designated Philadelphia as the temporary capital for a period of ten years while the new seat of government was being built. The federal government operated out of New York City at the time, and Congress temporarily met there in 1790. The Act set a deadline of December 1800 for the capital to be ready, with the President required to have suitable buildings ready for Congress and other government offices by the first Monday in December of that year. The original intention of the Residence Act was to use proceeds from selling lots in the District to cover the costs of constructing federal buildings in the capital. However, there was little interest in purchasing lots, and a shortage of funds contributed to delays in building the Capitol and other federal buildings in Washington.

The Federalist Papers

The Federalists and Anti-Federalists both passionately advocated for their positions, and the debate raged for months. The Federalists, led by Hamilton and Madison, knew that the ratification of the Constitution was crucial, especially in key states like Virginia and New York. During the ratification debate in Virginia, Madison promised that a bill of rights would be added after ratification, which reassured the convention.

The Bill of Rights, which was added to the Constitution later, was a fulfillment of the promises made during the ratification debates. It enumerated the fundamental freedoms of the American people, guaranteeing their liberties and forming the basis of the American government and way of life.

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