Simone Lawson
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with a 39th delegate, John Dickinson of Delaware, signing later. The signing of the Constitution came after the Constitutional Convention, which met in Philadelphia between May and September 1787, to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The Federalists, who believed that a strong central government was necessary, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed the Constitution, engaged in a heated debate over the ratification of the document. The Federalists, led by Hamilton and Madison, produced The Federalist Papers, a series of essays explaining and defending the proposed government. The Constitution was gradually ratified by the states, with Delaware being the first, and New Hampshire becoming the ninth and final state needed to ratify the document on June 21, 1788. The Bill of Rights, consisting of the first ten amendments, was added to the Constitution in 1791 to address concerns about the lack of protection for certain individual freedoms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of signing | September 17, 1787 |
| Number of signers | 39 |
| Date of ratification | 1789 |
| Number of states needed for ratification | 9 out of 13 |
| States that voted for ratification | Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire |
| Leaders of lobbying efforts for ratification | Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay |
| Supporting faction | Federalists |
| Opposition faction | Anti-Federalists |
| First ten Amendments | Bill of Rights |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The Federalists, led by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, believed in a strong central government
- The Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution due to its lack of a bill of rights
- The Constitution was intended to revise the Articles of Confederation
- The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware
- The Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791
The Federalists, led by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, believed in a strong central government
Hamilton, Madison, and Jay played a crucial role in the ratification of the Constitution. They led the lobbying efforts and produced 85 essays known as "The Federalist Papers," which explained and defended the proposed new government. The Federalist Papers were published in newspapers nationwide and played a significant role in persuading the public of the necessity of the Constitution.
The Federalists' support for a strong central government was in contrast to the Anti-Federalists, who opposed the ratification of the Constitution. The Anti-Federalists feared that a strong central government would threaten individual freedoms and states' rights, reminding them of the government they had just overthrown. They criticized the lack of protections for rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the press in the Constitution.
However, the Federalists addressed these concerns by promising to add a Bill of Rights as amendments to the Constitution. This compromise helped secure the ratification of the Constitution by the required nine out of thirteen states. The Federalists' vision of a strong central government was realized with the creation of a national bank, the passage of tax laws, and the assumption of national and state debts. They believed that their policies would promote economic growth and stability for the young nation.
Overall, the Federalists, led by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, played a pivotal role in shaping the early political landscape of the United States. Their belief in a strong central government influenced the ratification of the Constitution and the formation of a powerful central government capable of addressing the challenges facing the nation.
The US Constitution: When Was It Abolished?
You may want to see also
The Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution due to its lack of a bill of rights
The U.S. Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 of the 41 delegates present. The document was not binding until ratified by nine of the 13 existing states. The Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it, emerged as two factions. The Anti-Federalists believed that the new Constitution gave too much power to the federal government, resembling a monarchy, and that the liberties of the people were best protected when power resided in state governments. They also believed that without a Bill of Rights, the federal government would become tyrannous.
The Anti-Federalists' most successful argument against the adoption of the Constitution was the lack of a bill of rights to protect individual liberties. George Clinton, under the pseudonym Cato, was most likely a writer of The Anti-Federalist Papers, a series of articles published to combat the Federalist campaign. The Federalists, including Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, argued against the necessity of a bill of rights to ensure the passage of the Constitution. They believed that the people's rights were best secured by auxiliary precautions, such as the division and separation of powers, bicameralism, and a representative form of government.
The Anti-Federalists included small farmers and landowners, shopkeepers, and laborers. They were concerned about the extensive powers granted to the federal government and the detraction from the republican governments of the states. Their arguments created a powerful current against adopting the Constitution in each of the states. However, the Federalists promised to add amendments to secure individual liberties if the Constitution was adopted.
The Bill of Rights, consisting of 10 amendments, was added to the Constitution in 1791, as supporters of the Constitution had promised. The First Amendment prohibits Congress from obstructing certain individual freedoms, including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and the right to petition. The Anti-Federalists' opposition to ratifying the Constitution was a significant factor leading to the adoption of the First Amendment and the other nine amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights.
Founders' Interest Groups: A Historical Perspective
You may want to see also
The Constitution was intended to revise the Articles of Confederation
The Constitution of the United States was intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, which served as the country's first constitution. The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and came into force on March 1, 1781. However, just a few years after the Revolutionary War, several key figures, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington, feared that the young nation was on the brink of collapse due to the limitations of the Articles.
The Articles gave 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 authority to print money. The states' disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart. Recognizing these challenges, Hamilton, along with other prominent political thinkers, began advocating for changes to strengthen the central government's powers.
In response to these concerns, the Confederation Congress called a convention of state delegates in Philadelphia in May 1787 to propose revisions to the Articles. The delegates assembled in secrecy, debating fiercely over issues such as congressional representation and slavery. Despite the initial purpose of amending the Articles, the convention ultimately resulted in the proposal and creation of a new form of government.
The delegates came up with a powerful central government, representing a mix of centralized authority and confederation, and compromising on various interests and views. On September 17, 1787, 38 delegates signed the new U.S. Constitution, with a 39th signature added later. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island approved the document, marking a significant step in the formation of the nation.
Barbarians: Constitution vs. Dexterity — Which Stat Wins?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$17.99 $17.99
The first state to ratify the Constitution was Delaware
The United States Constitution was signed by 37 of the original 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention meeting in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. Under Article VII, it was agreed that the document would not be binding until its ratification by nine of the 13 existing states. The Federalists, who believed that a strong central government was necessary, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed the Constitution because it created a powerful central government, emerged as two factions.
Following Delaware's lead, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut also ratified the Constitution. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, making federal democracy the law of the land. The government under the U.S. Constitution took effect on March 4, 1789, following the nation's first presidential election.
The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document. The Bill of Rights, consisting of the first ten Amendments, was added to the Constitution in 1791.
Exploring the Cabinet: Education Department's Key Duties
You may want to see also
The Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791
The United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 38 delegates, with a additional signature from George Reed on behalf of John Dickinson of Delaware, bringing the total to 39. The document was submitted to the Congress of the Confederation within three days of its signing. The Constitution was not ratified by all states until May 29, 1790, when Rhode Island finally approved the document.
The Bill of Rights, consisting of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, was ratified on December 15, 1791, by three-fourths of the state legislatures. The amendments defined citizens' rights in relation to the newly established government under the Constitution. During the debates on the adoption of the Constitution, its opponents, the Anti-Federalists, repeatedly charged that the document as drafted would open the way to tyranny by the central government. They demanded a "bill of rights" that would spell out the immunities of individual citizens.
The Federalists, who believed that a strong central government was necessary to face the nation’s challenges, needed to convert at least three states. The Anti-Federalists fought hard against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government and lacked a bill of rights. The ratification campaign was a close call. The tide turned in Massachusetts, where the “vote now, amend later” compromise helped secure victory in that state and eventually in the final holdouts.
The first ten amendments introduced were referred to as the Bill of Rights. The First Amendment prohibits Congress from obstructing the exercise of certain individual freedoms: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and the right to petition. Its Free Exercise Clause guarantees a person's right to hold whatever religious beliefs they want and to freely exercise that belief. Its Establishment Clause prevents the federal government from creating an official national church or favoring one set of religious beliefs over another. The amendment guarantees an individual's right to express and to be exposed to a wide range of opinions and views. It was intended to ensure a free exchange of ideas, even unpopular ones.
Student Tickets at Playhouse Square: Who Qualifies?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Federalists were the faction supporting the Constitution, believing that a strong central government was necessary to face the nation's challenges.
The Anti-Federalists were the faction opposing the Constitution, fighting against it because it created a powerful central government and lacked a bill of rights.
The Anti-Federalists were concerned that the Constitution created a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had just overthrown, and that it lacked a bill of rights. They also had concerns over the lack of protections for people's rights.
The Federalists needed to convert at least three states to their side. The tide turned in Massachusetts, where the “vote now, amend later” compromise helped secure victory in that state and eventually in the final holdouts.
Key figures in the ratification process included Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin.
