Eleanor Finch
The ratification of the Constitution was a highly contested issue, with many people resisting the increase in power of the national government at the expense of the states. Some were dissatisfied with the Constitution because it did not guarantee the protection of individual liberties. For example, Virginia's Patrick Henry feared that the newly created office of president would place excessive power in the hands of one man, and disapproved of the federal government's new ability to tax its citizens. Others were concerned about the loss of their traditional rights and the violation of their liberties. This led many of the Constitution's opponents to call for a bill of rights and to refuse to ratify the document without one.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The Constitution did not guarantee protection of individual liberties | State governments had given jury trials to residents charged with violating the law, allowed residents to possess weapons for their protection, and practiced religious tolerance |
| The office of president would place excessive power in the hands of one man | Virginia's Patrick Henry feared this |
| The federal government's new ability to tax its citizens | Patrick Henry disapproved of this |
| The relative power of the state and federal governments | Many people resisted increasing the powers of the national government at the expense of the states |
| The federal government's ability to maintain and command an army and navy | Many people resisted this |
| The federal government's ability to force the states to comply with laws passed by Congress | Many people resisted this |
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What You'll Learn
- The Constitution did not guarantee the protection of individual liberties
- The office of president would place excessive power in the hands of one man
- The federal government would have the power to tax its citizens
- The relative power of the state and federal governments
- The Constitution was seen as a compromise
The Constitution did not guarantee the protection of individual liberties
The relative power of the state and federal governments was another sticking point when it came to ratification. Many people resisted increasing the powers of the national government at the expense of the states. Virginia’s Patrick Henry, for example, feared that the newly created office of president would place excessive power in the hands of one man. He also disapproved of the federal government’s new ability to tax its citizens.
The idea of cooperating to effect changes influenced wavering delegates in several key states, including Massachusetts and Virginia. Some people saw the move as calculating, but Federalists in several divided conventions provided a compelling model of compromise.
Anti-Federalists' Reluctance to Ratify the Constitution
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The office of president would place excessive power in the hands of one man
One of the reasons why some people did not want to ratify the Constitution was that they believed the office of president would place excessive power in the hands of one man. Virginia's Patrick Henry, for example, feared that the newly created office of president would place excessive power in the hands of one man. He also disapproved of the federal government's new ability to tax its citizens.
The Constitution's framers believed that without the ability to maintain and command an army and navy, impose taxes, and force the states to comply with laws passed by Congress, the young nation would not survive for very long. But many people resisted increasing the powers of the national government at the expense of the states.
Some people also feared the loss of their traditional rights and the violation of their liberties. The Constitution did not contain reassurances that the federal government would protect individual liberties. Although it provided for habeas corpus and prohibited both a religious test for holding office and granting noble titles, some citizens feared the loss of their traditional rights. This led many of the Constitution’s opponents to call for a bill of rights and the refusal to ratify the document without one.
However, the idea of George Washington serving as the first President convinced some wavering delegates to take a chance on the Constitution. Federalists in several divided conventions provided a compelling model of compromise by accepting the idea of recommended amendments and working with their opponents to craft specific proposed changes to the Constitution.
Why Pennsylvania Should Ratify the 1787 Constitution
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The federal government would have the power to tax its citizens
One of the reasons why some people did not want to ratify the Constitution was because it did not guarantee the protection of individual liberties. Some citizens feared the loss of their traditional rights and the violation of their liberties. For example, state governments had given jury trials to residents charged with violating the law, allowed their residents to possess weapons for their protection, and some had practiced religious tolerance. The Constitution did not contain reassurances that the federal government would do the same.
Another reason was that some people feared the federal government's new ability to tax its citizens. The framers of the Constitution believed that without the power to impose taxes, the young nation would not survive for very long. However, many people resisted increasing the powers of the national government at the expense of the states. For example, Virginia's Patrick Henry disapproved of the federal government's new ability to tax its citizens. He also feared that the newly created office of president would place excessive power in the hands of one man.
The Long Road to Ratification: America's Constitution
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The relative power of the state and federal governments
The greatest source of dissatisfaction with the Constitution was that it did not guarantee the protection of individual liberties. State governments had allowed their residents to possess weapons, practice religious tolerance, and receive jury trials if charged with violating the law. The Constitution did not contain reassurances that the federal government would do the same, leading some citizens to fear the loss of their traditional rights and the violation of their liberties.
Some people saw the Federalists' move to accept the idea of recommended amendments and work with their opponents to craft specific proposed changes to the Constitution as calculating. However, the idea of cooperating to effect changes influenced wavering delegates in several key states, including Massachusetts and Virginia.
Challenges to Constitution Ratification: Overcoming Obstacles
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The Constitution was seen as a compromise
However, some people saw the move as calculating. The greatest source of dissatisfaction with the Constitution was that it did not guarantee the protection of individual liberties. State governments had given jury trials to residents charged with violating the law and allowed their residents to possess weapons for their protection. Some had practiced religious tolerance as well. The Constitution, however, did not contain reassurances that the federal government would do so. Although it provided for habeas corpus and prohibited both a religious test for holding office and granting noble titles, some citizens feared the loss of their traditional rights and the violation of their liberties. This led many of the Constitution’s opponents to call for a bill of rights and the refusal to ratify the document without one.
The greatest sticking point when it came to ratification was the relative power of the state and federal governments. The framers of the Constitution believed that without the ability to maintain and command an army and navy, impose taxes, and force the states to comply with laws passed by Congress, the young nation would not survive for very long. But many people resisted increasing the powers of the national government at the expense of the states. Virginia’s Patrick Henry, for example, feared that the newly created office of president would place excessive power in the hands of one man. He also disapproved of the federal government’s new ability to tax its citizens.
Representatives Ratified the Constitution: How Were They Chosen?
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Frequently asked questions
Some people did not want to ratify the Constitution because they believed it did not guarantee the protection of individual liberties. For example, it did not contain reassurances that the federal government would allow jury trials, allow residents to possess weapons, or practice religious tolerance.
Some people were concerned about the federal government's new ability to tax its citizens. They also feared that the newly created office of president would place excessive power in the hands of one man.
The greatest sticking point when it came to ratification was the relative power of the state and federal governments. Many people resisted increasing the powers of the national government at the expense of the states.
