Omar Bennett
The ratification of the Constitution was a highly contested issue in the United States, with smaller states like Delaware generally favouring the Constitution, while larger states like New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia were more hesitant to ratify it. Supporters of the Constitution, who called themselves Federalists, argued that a strong national government with an army would be better equipped to defend the smaller states than their state militias. On the other hand, Anti-Federalists, which included small farmers, landowners, shopkeepers, and labourers, favoured strong state governments, a weak central government, and the strengthening of individual liberties. The debate over ratification even led to a clash between two Federalist masters of political debate, Madison and John Marshall, and the fiery orator Patrick Henry, an outspoken Anti-Federalist.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Smaller states | Delaware |
| Larger states | New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia |
| Supporters | Madison, John Marshall, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson |
| Opponents | Patrick Henry, George Mason |
| Supporters' reasons | Equal representation in the Senate, a strong national government with an army |
| Opponents' reasons | Loss of power, having to provide tax money to support the new government, loss of sovereignty, violation of natural rights and civil liberties |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Smaller states, like Delaware, favored the Constitution
- Larger states, like New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, were against it
- Supporters of the Constitution were called Federalists
- Opponents of the Constitution were called Anti-Federalists
- Some claim supporters of the Constitution resorted to bribes to ensure approval
Smaller states, like Delaware, favored the Constitution
Larger states, however, had significant power to lose. They did not believe they needed the federal government to defend them and disliked the prospect of having to provide tax money to support the new government. Thus, from the very beginning, the supporters of the Constitution feared that New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia would refuse to ratify it.
Indeed, when the Virginia Convention met on June 2, a titanic debate took place as two Federalist masters of political debate, Madison and John Marshall, clashed with George Mason and the fiery orator Patrick Henry. Henry, an outspoken anti-Federalist, cautioned that a powerful national government would violate natural rights and civil liberties, thus destroying "the rights of conscience, trial by jury, liberty of the press ... all pretentions to human rights and privileges, are rendered insecure, if not lost, by this change."
In New York, the vote was thirty in favor to twenty-seven opposed. In Massachusetts, the vote to approve was 187 to 168, and some claim supporters of the Constitution resorted to bribes in order to ensure approval. Virginia ratified by a vote of eighty-nine to seventy-nine, and Rhode Island by thirty-four to thirty-two.
Connecticut Compromise: Constitution Ratification Enabler
You may want to see also
Larger states, like New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, were against it
Larger states, like New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, were against the ratification of the Constitution. They had significant power to lose and did not believe they needed the federal government to defend them. They disliked the prospect of having to provide tax money to support the new government.
Supporters of the Constitution feared that these states would refuse to ratify it. However, despite these fears, New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia did eventually ratify the Constitution. In New York, the vote was thirty in favor to twenty-seven opposed. In Massachusetts, the vote to approve was 187 to 168, and some claim supporters of the Constitution resorted to bribes in order to ensure approval. Virginia ratified by a vote of eighty-nine to seventy-nine.
One of the most prominent opponents of the Constitution was Patrick Henry. Henry warned that the states would lose their sovereignty in a Union of “we the people” instead of “we the states.” He cautioned that a powerful national government would violate natural rights and civil liberties, thus destroying “the rights of conscience, trial by jury, liberty of the press . . . all pretentions to human rights and privileges, are rendered insecure, if not lost, by this change.”
The Constitution's Ratification: A Historical Method Explained
You may want to see also
Supporters of the Constitution were called Federalists
Larger states, however, had significant power to lose. They did not believe they needed the federal government to defend them and disliked the prospect of having to provide tax money to support the new government. Thus, supporters of the Constitution feared that New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia would refuse to ratify it.
In New York, the vote was thirty in favour to twenty-seven opposed. In Massachusetts, the vote to approve was 187 to 168, and some claim supporters of the Constitution resorted to bribes in order to ensure approval. Virginia ratified by a vote of eighty-nine to seventy-nine, and Rhode Island by thirty-four to thirty-two.
Among the supporters of the Constitution were Madison and John Marshall, who clashed with George Mason and Patrick Henry. Patrick Henry was an outspoken anti-Federalist. He cautioned that a powerful national government would violate natural rights and civil liberties, thus destroying “the rights of conscience, trial by jury, liberty of the press . . . all pretentions to human rights and privileges, are rendered insecure, if not lost, by this change.
The Evolution of Pennsylvania's Constitution: Section 9's Ratification
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Opponents of the Constitution were called Anti-Federalists
One of the most outspoken Anti-Federalists was Patrick Henry, who warned that the states would lose their sovereignty in a Union of 'we the people' instead of 'we the states'. He cautioned that a powerful national government would violate natural rights and civil liberties, thus destroying 'the rights of conscience, trial by jury, liberty of the press... all pretentions to human rights and privileges, are rendered insecure, if not lost, by this change'.
Larger states, such as New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, also opposed the Constitution as they had significant power to lose. They did not believe they needed the federal government to defend them and disliked the prospect of having to provide tax money to support the new government.
The Buckeye State's Constitutional Ratification
You may want to see also
Some claim supporters of the Constitution resorted to bribes to ensure approval
Smaller states, like Delaware, favored the Constitution. Equal representation in the Senate would give them a degree of equality with the larger states, and a strong national government with an army at its command would be better able to defend them than their state militias could. Larger states, however, had significant power to lose. They did not believe they needed the federal government to defend them and disliked the prospect of having to provide tax money to support the new government.
Supporters of the Constitution were called Federalists. They included the likes of Madison and John Marshall, as well as George Washington. Federalists were in favor of a strong national government and a bill of rights.
The Constitution: Ratification, Rights, and Our Future
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Smaller states, like Delaware, were in favour of ratifying the Constitution. Equal representation in the Senate would give them a degree of equality with the larger states, and a strong national government with an army at its command would be better able to defend them than their state militias could.
Larger states, like New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, were against ratifying the Constitution. They had significant power to lose and did not believe they needed the federal government to defend them. They also disliked the prospect of having to provide tax money to support the new government.
Supporters of the Constitution called themselves Federalists. They capitalised on the fact that they were offering solutions to what they perceived to be the problems under the Articles.
