Jonah Patel
The ratification of the Constitution by Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia was a crucial moment in US history. These three states were the last to ratify the Constitution, and their support was vital due to their political and economic influence and geographical location. The Federalists faced opposition from Anti-Federalists in these large and powerful states, who demanded amendments to protect the liberties of the people. The Federalists promised to consider these amendments after the Constitution was ratified, and this compromise proposal helped secure the support of these states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Opposition | Anti-Federalists in Massachusetts, New York and Virginia demanded prior amendments to be sent to a second convention before they would accept the new government |
| Support | Smaller, less populous states supported the Constitution and the protection of a strong federal government |
| Support | Larger states, such as Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, also voted in favour of the new government |
| Support | New York and Virginia's support was needed for the Constitution to be considered legitimate due to their political and economic influence and geographical location |
| Support | The Federalists were building momentum toward the nine states they needed to win |
| Support | The Massachusetts Compromise proposal — “ratify now, amend later” — moved an equally divided Convention to adopt the Constitution |
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What You'll Learn
The Massachusetts Compromise
By March 1788, proponents of the Constitution had secured the approval of eight state ratifying conventions. However, they faced sure defeat in New Hampshire, so they agreed to postpone a final decision, consult with the voters, hold a second election, and reconvene four months later. This was a critical tactical decision and an important concession to deny the Anti-Federalists their first victory.
The large and influential states of New York and Virginia were eager to ratify the Constitution as soon as possible. Hamilton and Madison arranged for the first 36 Federalist essays to be published in book form and distributed copies to friends in the hope of influencing the delegates to the New York and Virginia ratifying conventions.
Everything rested on the three remaining states: New Hampshire, Virginia, and New York. The best evidence suggests that going into the three ratifying conventions, the Federalist–Antifederalist delegate split was 52-52 in New Hampshire, 84-84 in Virginia, and 19-46 in New York.
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The Federalist-Antifederalist split
The Anti-Federalists were mounting an effective opposition in essays and debates. Some demanded prior amendments to be sent to a second convention before they would accept the new government. During the debate in Massachusetts, opposition forced the Federalists to promise to consider amendments protecting the liberties of the people after the Constitution was ratified as written. This became known as the Massachusetts Compromise proposal: "ratify now, amend later".
In New York and Virginia, the Federalists arranged for the first thirty-six Federalist essays to be published in book form and distributed copies to friends in the hope of influencing the delegates to the New York and Virginia ratifying conventions. The large and influential states of New York and Virginia were eager to ratify the Constitution as soon as possible. Almost unanimous support for the Constitution existed in every state.
The debate for ratification ultimately ended with not enough states voting to ratify, and the Constitution did not become the government of the United States. The minimum number of states ratified the Constitution, so it became the law of the land, but only for the states that accepted it.
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The influence of large states
The large and influential states of Massachusetts, New York and Virginia were crucial in the ratification of the Constitution. These states were the last three to ratify the Constitution, and their support was needed for the Constitution to be considered legitimate.
New York and Virginia were particularly important because of their political and economic influence and geographical location. The Federalists knew that the main opposition would come from Anti-Federalists in these large and powerful states. The Anti-Federalists were mounting an effective opposition in essays and debates, and some demanded prior amendments to be sent to a second convention before they would accept the new government.
During the debate in Massachusetts, opposition forced the Federalists to promise to consider amendments protecting the liberties of the people after the Constitution was ratified as written. This became known as the Massachusetts Compromise proposal: "ratify now, amend later". Five people changed their minds, and 12 amendments were proposed.
In Virginia, five delegates changed their minds, and 20 amendments were proposed, along with 20 items constituting a bill of rights. The Federalists and Anti-Federalists were evenly split in New York and Virginia, and the Federalists had to work hard to secure the approval of these states.
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The ratification debate
The Anti-Federalists were mounting an effective opposition through essays and debates, demanding prior amendments to be sent to a second convention before they would accept the new government. During the debate in Massachusetts, the opposition forced the Federalists to promise to consider amendments protecting the liberties of the people after the Constitution was ratified as written. This became known as the Massachusetts Compromise proposal, or "ratify now, amend later". Five people changed their minds, and 12 amendments were proposed.
In Virginia, the crisis was broken by the Massachusetts Compromise, with five delegates changing their minds. Twenty amendments were proposed, along with 20 items constituting a bill of rights. The large and influential states of New York and Virginia were eager to ratify the Constitution as soon as possible, and their support was crucial due to their political and economic influence and geographical location.
On March 22, Hamilton and Madison arranged for the first 36 Federalist essays to be published in book form and distributed copies to friends in the hope of influencing the delegates to the New York and Virginia ratifying conventions. The ratification debate ultimately ended without enough states voting to ratify, and the Constitution did not become the government of the United States. However, the minimum number of states ratified the Constitution, so it became the law of the land for the states that accepted it.
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The need for amendments
The ratification of the Constitution was a highly contested issue, with the Federalists and Anti-Federalists locked in a fierce debate. The Federalists were pushing for ratification, while the Anti-Federalists demanded amendments to be made before they would accept the new government. The Anti-Federalists argued that the Constitution's strong national government was too similar to the monarchy from which the colonists had fought to be free. They also believed that it was carefully crafted to prevent any abuses of private citizens.
The large and influential states of New York and Virginia were eager to ratify the Constitution as soon as possible. However, the approval of nine states was needed for the new government to go into operation. This meant that the support of Virginia and New York was crucial, due to their political and economic influence and geographical location.
The Federalists knew that the main opposition would come from Anti-Federalists in these large and powerful states, including Massachusetts. During the debate in Massachusetts, the opposition forced the Federalists to promise to consider amendments protecting the liberties of the people after the Constitution was ratified as written. This proposal, known as the Massachusetts Compromise, moved an equally divided Convention to adopt the Constitution. Five delegates changed their minds, and 12 amendments were proposed.
In the end, the proponents of the Constitution secured the approval of nine states, with New York and Virginia ratifying the Constitution in 1789 and 1790, respectively. However, they did so only after the First Congress sent 12 amendment proposals to the states for ratification. The ratification of the Constitution was a complex and contentious process, with both sides making tactical decisions and concessions along the way.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution needed the support of these three states because of their political and economic influence and geographical location.
The Massachusetts Compromise proposal was "ratify now, amend later". This moved an equally divided convention to adopt the Constitution.
The main opposition came from Anti-Federalists in large and powerful states, including Massachusetts, New York and Virginia.
Some Anti-Federalists demanded prior amendments to be sent to a second convention before they would accept the new government.
After ratification, Congress set dates for the first federal elections and the official implementation of the Constitution.
