Why The Constitution Was Accepted

The United States Constitution was ratified in 1787, replacing the Articles of Confederation, which had served as the country's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation had established a weak central government, giving the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it lacked enforcement powers, the ability to regulate commerce, and the ability to print money. The young nation faced threats of collapse due to disputes among the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington were among those who recognized the need for a stronger central government, and they played key roles in advocating for and drafting the new Constitution. The ratification process was challenging, with Federalists and Anti-Federalists engaged in a heated debate. The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, believed that a robust central government was necessary to address the nation's challenges. On the other hand, Anti-Federalists opposed it due to concerns about centralized power and the absence of a bill of rights. The compromise reached in Massachusetts, known as the vote now, amend later agreement, was pivotal in securing the required number of states for ratification. The Constitution has since undergone amendments, including the addition of the Bill of Rights, and stands as one of the longest-lasting and most influential constitutions globally.

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

Mapping the Constitution: The Cartographic History of the Ratification of the Constitution

$22.56 $40

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

Slavery's Constitution: From Revolution to Ratification

$17.1 $19.99

Original Intentions: On the Making and Ratification of the United States Constitution

$32.67

The Articles of Confederation were deemed unfit

Madison, in particular, had studied history and political theory for several years, searching for a solution to the political and economic dilemmas he saw plaguing America. He became convinced of the weakness of confederacies of independent states and believed that the Articles of Confederation had to be replaced. Hamilton shared a similar view, and his proposal for a new form of government, while unsuccessful, helped spark the movement for a constitutional convention to reevaluate the nation's governing document.

The delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 had gathered to revise the Articles of Confederation, but by mid-June, they had decided to completely redesign the government. They compromised on several issues, including congressional representation, which would be based on population but also divided equally among the states. They also agreed to count enslaved Africans as three-fifths of a person and temporarily resolved the issue of slavery by agreeing that the slave trade could continue until 1808.

The new Constitution was signed by 38 out of 41 delegates on September 17, 1787, and it was agreed that it would not be binding until ratified by nine of the 13 states. The Federalists, who believed in a strong central government, faced opposition from Anti-Federalists who fought against the Constitution due to its resemblance to the monarchy they had just overthrown and its lack of a bill of rights. Despite this opposition, the Constitution was ratified by the required number of states, with the first being Delaware on December 7, 1787.

A stronger, more centralized government was needed

The United States Constitution was ratified in 1787, replacing the Articles of Confederation, which had served as the country's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation had established a loose confederation of states, with a weak central government that lacked the authority to enforce its decisions, regulate commerce, or print money. This led to disputes among the states over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade, threatening to tear the young nation apart.

The call for a stronger, more centralized government was led by prominent figures such as Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and George Washington, who believed that the Articles of Confederation were inadequate to address the challenges facing the country. Hamilton, a erudite New Yorker, gave a famous speech advocating for a stronger central government, though his proposal for a government with a powerful executive and senate was seen as too similar to the British monarchy, which had been recently overthrown.

Madison, who had studied history and political theory extensively, was convinced of the need to replace the weak confederacy of independent states. He, along with Hamilton, played a key role in lobbying for votes in favor of ratifying the new Constitution, producing "The Federalist Papers", a series of essays explaining and defending the proposed government. The Federalists believed that a strong central government was necessary to address the nation's challenges, while the Anti-Federalists opposed it due to concerns about centralized power and the lack of a bill of rights.

The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 was marked by intense debates, including arguments over congressional representation. The delegates ultimately compromised, creating a powerful central government while also addressing concerns about centralized power. The Constitution was signed by 38 delegates, and ratification by 9 of the 13 states enacted the new government. The process was challenging, with only 6 of 13 states initially reporting a pro-Constitution majority. The Massachusetts Compromise, which promised future amendments to include a Bill of Rights, was crucial in securing ratification.

The Constitution established a stronger, more centralized government, resolving the issues that had plagued the young nation under the Articles of Confederation. It provided a framework for the United States government, with a system of representation and a balance of powers. The Constitution has evolved since its ratification, with amendments added over time, including the Bill of Rights, to address the needs of a growing and changing nation.

The Federalists believed in a strong central government

The Federalists, including Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and George Washington, believed that a strong central government was necessary to face the nation's challenges. They favored a strong executive branch led by a president with broad powers, and supported a balanced system of government that included checks and balances between the different branches.

Hamilton, in particular, favored a strong central government. In a speech, he proposed a model similar to the British government, with an executive serving during good behavior or life with veto power over all laws, a senate with members serving during good behavior, and the legislature having the power to pass all laws. However, his proposal failed to gain a following as it was considered too similar to monarchy, which had been recently overthrown.

The Federalists' belief in a strong central government was in contrast to the Anti-Federalists, who fought against the Constitution as it created a powerful central government that reminded them of the monarchy they had just overthrown, and it lacked a bill of rights. The Federalists' suppression of free speech under the Alien and Sedition Acts, and their assumption of closer relations with Britain, also inflamed opposition from the Jeffersonian Republicans, who believed in individual freedoms and the rights of states.

Despite the concerns of the Anti-Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans, the Federalists' belief in a strong central government was realized with the ratification of the Constitution. The founders set the terms for ratifying the Constitution, bypassing the state legislatures and calling for special ratifying conventions in each state. Ratification by 9 of the 13 states enacted the new government, marking a shift towards a more powerful central government.

Explore related products

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 Framing and Ratification of the Constitution

$69.99

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)

$39 $42.5

The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution, Volume 1: Constitutional Documents and Records 1776-1787 (Volume 1)

$95

The Writing and Ratification of the U.S. Constitution: Practical Virtue in Action

$52.43 $59

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

$15

The Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution

The Anti-Federalists opposed the ratification of the 1787 U.S. Constitution, fearing that the new national government would be too powerful and threaten individual liberties. They believed that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government at the expense of the states. The Anti-Federalists, who included small farmers, landowners, shopkeepers, and labourers, favoured strong state governments, a weak central government, the direct election of government officials, short term limits for officeholders, accountability by officeholders to popular majorities, and the strengthening of individual liberties. They were loyal to their states and wary of centralized power, reminding them of the monarchy they had just overthrown.

The Anti-Federalists' opposition to the Constitution was a powerful force in the origin of the Bill of Rights, which was adopted to protect Americans' civil liberties. They believed that the Constitution lacked a bill of rights, and their opposition led to the adoption of the First Amendment and the other nine amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights. The Anti-Federalists included a group of founding-era heavyweights, such as Virginia's George Mason, Patrick Henry, and Richard Henry Lee, and Massachusetts's Samuel Adams, Elbridge Gerry, and Mercy Otis Warren.

The ratification battle was a debate over political power and federalism, with the Anti-Federalists defending a vision of America rooted in powerful states. They argued that the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution, had serious problems and needed to be replaced. The Articles gave the Confederation Congress the power to make rules and request funds from the states, but it had no enforcement powers, couldn't regulate commerce, or print money, leading to disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade.

Despite their opposition, the Anti-Federalists ultimately lost the battle over ratification. The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, framed the debate as a choice between the new Constitution and the flawed Articles of Confederation, and they had a plan for a new government that the Anti-Federalists lacked. The Federalists successfully avoided structural reforms within the new government by heading off pressures for a second constitutional convention, and they compromised with the Anti-Federalists to adopt the Constitution, leading to the inclusion of the Bill of Rights.

The vote now, amend later compromise

The United States Constitution was a hotly debated document in the 18th century, with many arguing over its merits and flaws. The vote now, amend later compromise was a crucial aspect of its eventual ratification. This compromise allowed for a unified agreement to accept the Constitution as it was, with the understanding that changes would be made to it in the future.

The Federal Convention, which took place in Philadelphia in 1787, was responsible for drafting the Constitution. The delegates at this convention aimed to create a stronger federal government, addressing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. While the Articles had provided a framework for the young nation, they lacked the necessary provisions for a robust central government, leading to issues such as economic crises and difficulties in decision-making.

The compromise allowed for the Constitution to be ratified first, with amendments to be proposed later. This approach is reflected in the text of the document, particularly in Article V, which outlines the process for proposing and ratifying amendments. This article sets out two methods for proposing amendments: either by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress or by conventions called by Congress at the request of two-thirds of the state legislatures. Ratification, on the other hand, can occur through one of two methods: approval by state legislatures or by special ratifying conventions, depending on which proposal method Congress chooses.

Frequently asked questions