Isabella Carter
The ratification of the US Constitution was a highly contested process, with two factions emerging: the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. George Washington, who was president of the Constitutional Convention, took an active role in the ratification process, urging political leaders throughout the nation to support the Constitution. He believed that the Constitution would create a stronger central government, with a Congress that had the power to tax, a President who would act as the nation's chief executive, and a national court system. Hamilton, Madison, and Jay also supported the ratification of the Constitution, publishing a series of commentaries known as The Federalist Papers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Supporters | George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Marquis de Lafayette, Benjamin Harrison, Patrick Henry, Edmund Randolph, James Madison, Hamilton, John Jay |
| Reasons | The unity of the nation had been sorely tested under the Articles of Confederation; Washington feared the current government was so powerless that it would soon dissolve |
| Opposition | Anti-Federalists |
| Outcome | Three state legislatures voted in favour of ratification: Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey |
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What You'll Learn
George Washington's support for the Constitution
George Washington was a key supporter of the Constitution. He was elected president of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, and although he rarely participated in the debates, he took an active role in the ratification process.
Washington believed that the unity of the nation was being tested under the Articles of Confederation, and he feared that the current government was so powerless that it would soon dissolve. He acknowledged that the Constitution was not perfect, but it created a stronger central government with a Congress that had the power to tax, a President who would act as the nation's chief executive, and a national court system.
In his letters, Washington expressed a desire to see the Constitution adopted. He urged people who had doubts about it to support it, reminding them that once it was approved, it could be amended. He also sent copies of the document to Thomas Jefferson, the Marquis de Lafayette, and the three most recent governors of Virginia, who each had serious reservations about the Constitution.
Washington's support was crucial to the ratification of the Constitution. Federalists used his image and letters as support for their cause, and his signature on the document added further weight to their arguments.
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The Federalist Papers
George Washington, who was president of the Constitutional Convention, also played an active role in the ratification process. He sent copies of the Constitution to political leaders, including Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette, urging them to support it. He also defended the Constitution, allying himself with younger political leaders like James Madison, and reminding those with doubts that it could be amended once approved.
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The Anti-Federalists
Despite their reservations, the Anti-Federalists eventually voted in favour of ratification. This was due in part to the lobbying efforts of Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, who explained and defended how the proposed new government would function.
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The Articles of Confederation
George Washington was a key figure in the ratification of the Constitution. He took an active role in the process, sending copies of the document to Thomas Jefferson, the Marquis de Lafayette, Benjamin Harrison, Patrick Henry, and Edmund Randolph, urging them to support it. He also wrote letters to political leaders across the nation, encouraging them to back the Constitution. Washington believed that the unity of the nation had been tested under the Articles of Confederation, and that the current government was so weak that it would soon dissolve. He saw the Constitution as a way to create a stronger central government, with a Congress that had the power to tax, a President as the nation's chief executive, and a national court system.
Two factions emerged during the ratification debate: the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, delegates from the Philadelphia Convention and members of Congress, published a series of commentaries, known as The Federalist Papers, in support of ratification. They explained and defended how the proposed new government would function. Before the year's end, three state legislatures voted in favour of ratification: Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
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The role of the states
George Washington, who had rarely participated in the debates as president of the Constitutional Convention, took an active role in the ratification process. He sent copies of the document to political leaders across the nation, including Thomas Jefferson, the Marquis de Lafayette, and the three most recent governors of Virginia, urging them to support the Constitution.
The Federalists, led by Hamilton and Madison, with assistance from John Jay, lobbied for votes in favour of ratification. They produced 85 essays, known as "The Federalist Papers", that explained and defended the proposed new government. Three state legislatures voted in favour of ratification by the end of the year: Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
The Anti-Federalists opposed the ratification of the Constitution. In New York, a hotbed of anti-Federalism, Hamilton, Madison, and Jay published a series of commentaries, also known as "The Federalist Papers", in support of ratification. Despite the opposition, the Constitution was eventually ratified by nine of the 13 existing states, as required under Article VII.
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Frequently asked questions
George Washington, Hamilton, Madison and Jay.
They wrote letters to political leaders urging them to support the Constitution, and published a series of commentaries, now known as The Federalist Papers, in support of ratification.
They believed the current government was so powerless that it would soon dissolve. The Constitution created a stronger central government that included a Congress with the power to tax, a President who would act as the nation’s chief executive, and a national court system.
