Jonah Patel
The ratification of the Constitution sparked an intense national debate between two factions: the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. The Anti-Federalists were concerned that a new national government would create too much centralised power, depriving citizens in the various states of the ability to make their own decisions. They also raised concerns about the lack of a Bill of Rights. Despite the support of revered figures such as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, ratification nearly failed due to massive grassroots opposition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Centralised power | The new national government created too much centralised power, which would deprive citizens in the various states of the ability to make their own decisions |
| Political deference | The erosion of political deference instigated by North American opposition to British imperial policies |
| Grassroots opposition | Despite support from George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and other experienced leaders, ratification nearly failed due to massive grassroots opposition |
| Amendments | Some demanded prior amendments to be sent to a second convention before they would accept the new government |
| Lack of a Bill of Rights | The Anti-Federalists raised concerns about the lack of a Bill of Rights |
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What You'll Learn
- The Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution, raising concerns about the lack of a Bill of Rights
- The Federalists supported the Constitution, arguing it was necessary for a strong, effective central government
- Opposition to the Constitution reflected fears of a new national government, much like the British monarchy, creating too much centralised power
- The ratification process sparked an intense national debate
- The Constitution was nearly not ratified, despite support from George Washington and Benjamin Franklin
The Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution, raising concerns about the lack of a Bill of Rights
During the debate in Massachusetts, the Anti-Federalists forced the Federalists to promise to consider amendments protecting the liberties of the people after the Constitution was ratified. The Federalists secured ratification by promising to support amendments addressing these concerns once the Constitution was adopted.
The Anti-Federalists' opposition to the Constitution sparked an intense national debate between two factions: the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. The Federalists were led by men such as Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, who argued that the Constitution provided a necessary framework for a strong, effective central government capable of unifying the nation, protecting against foreign threats, and managing domestic affairs.
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The Federalists supported the Constitution, arguing it was necessary for a strong, effective central government
The Federalists were met with massive grassroots opposition from the Anti-Federalists, who raised concerns about the lack of a Bill of Rights and the concentration of power in a central government. The Anti-Federalists were mounting an effective opposition in essays and debates, demanding prior amendments to be sent to a second convention before they would accept the new government.
Despite the support of revered figures such as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, ratification nearly failed. The Federalists were forced to promise to consider amendments protecting the liberties of the people after the Constitution was ratified as written.
The ratification process sparked an intense national debate between the two factions, with the Federalists ultimately securing ratification by a narrow margin in several states.
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Opposition to the Constitution reflected fears of a new national government, much like the British monarchy, creating too much centralised power
The opposition to the Constitution reflected a fear of centralised power, similar to that of the British monarchy, which had been a driving force behind the American Revolution. The Anti-Federalists believed that a strong central government would deprive citizens in the various states of the ability to make their own decisions and undermine the principles of the Revolution. This view was shared by many grassroots Americans, who were shocked to see revered figures such as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin supporting the Constitution.
The debate over ratification was intense, with several states, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Delaware, experiencing significant opposition. The Federalists had to employ strategic tactics, such as adjourning conventions to muster more support, in order to secure the required number of ratifications. Despite the massive grassroots opposition, the Constitution was eventually ratified, but not without the promise of amendments to protect the liberties of the people.
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The ratification process sparked an intense national debate
The Anti-Federalists raised concerns about the lack of a Bill of Rights and the fear that a new national government would create too much centralised power, depriving citizens in the various states of the ability to make their own decisions. They 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.
Despite the support of revered figures such as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, ratification nearly failed due to massive grassroots opposition. Each state held a special convention to debate and vote on ratification, and the process was far from smooth, with significant opposition in several states. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, doing so unanimously on December 7, 1787. Pennsylvania and New Jersey quickly followed, with relatively little opposition. Massachusetts was the sixth state to approve the Constitution on February 6, 1788, by a narrow margin of 187 to 168. By June 1788, eight states had ratified the Constitution.
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The Constitution was nearly not ratified, despite support from George Washington and Benjamin Franklin
Despite support from George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, the Constitution was nearly not ratified. The document was signed by 39 of the 55 delegates on 17 September 1787, but it then had to be ratified by at least nine of the 13 states to take effect.
The ratification process sparked an intense national debate between two factions: the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. The Federalists were led by men such as Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, who argued that the Constitution provided a necessary framework for a strong, effective central government capable of unifying the nation, protecting against foreign threats, and managing domestic affairs.
The Anti-Federalists, meanwhile, raised concerns about the lack of a Bill of Rights and the potential for a new national government to create too much centralised power, depriving citizens in the various states of the ability to make their own decisions. They 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.
The debate was particularly intense in Massachusetts, where the Federalists were forced to promise to consider amendments protecting the liberties of the people after the Constitution was ratified as written. Massachusetts became the sixth state to approve the Constitution on 6 February 1788, by a narrow vote of 187 to 168. By June 1788, eight states had ratified the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
Many feared that a new national government would create too much centralised power, much like the British monarchy, and deprive citizens in the various states of the ability to make their own decisions.
The Anti-Federalists raised concerns about the lack of a Bill of Rights. They also demanded prior amendments to be sent to a second convention before they would accept the new government.
The Federalists were led by men such as Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. They supported the Constitution, arguing that it provided a necessary framework for a strong, effective central government capable of unifying the nation, protecting against foreign threats, and managing domestic affairs.
The opposition to the Constitution was largely grassroots, despite the support of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and other experienced leaders.
The Constitution had to be ratified by at least nine of the 13 states to take effect.
