Simone Lawson
The Virginia Ratifying Convention saw a divided state, with influential figures such as Patrick Henry, George Mason, and William Grayson opposing ratification. The majority of Virginians were said to be against the adoption of the Constitution, with Anti-Federalists like Henry arguing that the Constitution concentrated too much power in the federal government, threatening states' rights and individual liberties. Despite this, Virginia narrowly approved the Constitution, becoming the tenth state to do so, after Federalists agreed to recommend a Bill of Rights.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Virginians who opposed the Constitution | James Madison, John Marshall, Edmund Randolph, Patrick Henry, James Monroe, George Mason, Thomas Jefferson |
| Virginians who supported the Constitution | Edmund Randolph, James Monroe, Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, James Madison, John Marshall |
| Supporters of the Virginia Plan | James Madison, George Washington |
| Alternative to the Virginia Plan | William Paterson's New Jersey Plan |
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What You'll Learn
James Madison
Madison served in the Virginia House of Delegates and the Continental Congress during and after the American Revolutionary War. He was dissatisfied with the weak national government established by the Articles of Confederation and helped organize the Constitutional Convention, which produced a new constitution designed to strengthen republican government.
Madison's Virginia Plan formed the basis for the convention's deliberations, and he became a leader in the movement to ratify the Constitution. He joined Alexander Hamilton and John Jay in writing The Federalist Papers, a series of pro-ratification essays. Despite his commitment to individual liberties, Madison opposed making the inclusion of a bill of rights a precondition for the Constitution's ratification. He argued that the federal government under the proposed Constitution would better protect the rights of individuals and minorities.
Madison was a key figure at the Virginia ratifying convention, where his opponents included Patrick Henry and George Mason. After Virginia ratified the Constitution, Madison resumed his duties in the Congress of the Confederation. He later served as Thomas Jefferson's secretary of state and then as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817.
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John Marshall
Marshall was a supporter of the Constitution. In 1788, he was elected to the Virginia Convention, which was called to ratify or reject the proposed Constitution of the United States. Despite the majority of his constituents in Henrico County being opposed to the Constitution, Marshall openly advocated for a general convention of the States and expressed his warm support for the Constitution that the convention framed.
During the Constitutional Convention, Marshall directed his replies chiefly to Mr. Henry's speeches, recognising him as the great leader of the opposition. Marshall's logical methods in argument elicited great admiration, enlarged his reputation, and established him as a leader of the moderate faction of Federalists.
In addition to his role in the adoption of the Constitution, Marshall also made significant contributions to the Supreme Court. He served as the U.S. Secretary of State under President John Adams and as a U.S. Representative from Virginia before becoming the fourth chief justice of the United States. Under Marshall, the Supreme Court adopted the practice of handing down a single majority opinion, allowing it to present a clear rule.
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Edmund Randolph
Randolph played a significant role in the drafting of the original constitution. As a delegate from Virginia to the Constitutional Convention, he introduced the Virginia Plan, which was composed mostly by James Madison. This plan was eventually revised into the final draft of the U.S. Constitution. The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature, with each state represented in proportion to their population. It also proposed a strong central government and a national judiciary.
However, Randolph did not sign the Constitution's final draft because he wanted increased protections for individuals and did not agree with all the revisions made to the original Virginia Plan. He thought the final document lacked sufficient checks and balances, and that the federal judiciary would threaten state courts. He also considered the Senate too powerful and Congress's power too broad.
Randolph nevertheless reversed his position at the Virginia Ratifying Convention in 1788. He chaired the nearly equally divided convention, with Mason and Patrick Henry leading the opposition. Randolph ultimately voted for ratification because he did not want Virginia left out of the new national government. He believed that Virginia must choose between ratification and disunion, and that the Constitution would enter more a league of sovereign states than a consolidated union.
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Patrick Henry
Henry's opposition to the U.S. Constitution stemmed from his fear of a strong central government and his belief in states' rights. He declined to attend the Constitutional Convention of 1787, citing his distrust in a powerful executive branch. At the Virginia Ratifying Convention in 1788, Henry argued against ratification, deeming the Constitution a betrayal of those who had fought in the Revolutionary War. He also objected to the lack of a Bill of Rights, which he believed was necessary to protect individual liberties.
Henry's oratory skills and passionate defence of independence made him a popular figure in Virginia. However, his opposition to the Constitution has been seen by some as a blemish on his career. Despite his efforts, the Constitution was ratified in Virginia by a vote of 89 to 79, partly due to a promise by Federalists to consider amendments, including a Bill of Rights, after ratification.
Henry's legacy is complex. He is remembered for his contributions to Virginia's early government and his role in the American Revolution. However, he was also a slaveholder, and his opposition to the Constitution has been interpreted as a desire to protect the institution of slavery from federal interference. In more recent times, he has become a favourite of Christian conservatives, who cite his deep religious beliefs and his defence of religious liberty.
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James Monroe
Monroe studied law under Thomas Jefferson from 1780 to 1783 and subsequently served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and the Virginia Ratifying Convention. He opposed the ratification of the United States Constitution, criticising the absence of a bill of rights and expressing concern about surrendering taxation powers to the central government. Despite Monroe's opposition, the Virginia Ratifying Convention voted to adopt the Constitution in 1789, and Monroe became a US senator for Virginia that same year.
Monroe was a leader of the Democratic-Republican Party, also known as the anti-federalist party, which believed in less government control and more individual rights. He served as Governor of Virginia from 1799 to 1800 and supported Thomas Jefferson's successful presidential campaign that year. As President Jefferson's special envoy, Monroe helped negotiate the Louisiana Purchase, nearly doubling the size of the United States.
Monroe served as President Madison's Secretary of State and Secretary of War during the War of 1812. He was elected as the fifth US President in 1817 and improved foreign policy through the Monroe Doctrine, which opposed colonialism in the Americas. He also expanded the Union to include several new states, including Missouri, which entered as a slave state, while Maine entered as a free state. Monroe's presidency saw the beginnings of sectional divisions over the expansion of slavery as new territories became eligible for statehood.
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Frequently asked questions
Patrick Henry, George Mason, and William Grayson were among those who opposed the ratification of the Constitution.
Anti-Federalists, those who opposed the Constitution, argued that it concentrated too much power in the federal government, taking away power from the states. They also criticised the absence of a Bill of Rights, which they believed was necessary to protect individual liberties.
Yes, Virginia did ratify the Constitution on June 25, 1788, after Federalists agreed to recommend a Bill of Rights.
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