Eleanor Finch
The ratification of the US Constitution was a complex process that required careful consideration and negotiation. George Washington, for example, believed that the Constitution should be ratified because it would create a stronger central government with increased powers, such as the ability to tax. However, there were differing opinions on the matter, with some arguing against any amendments and others recognising the need to obtain majorities of both states and people. The process of ratification involved calling upon state legislatures to hold ratification conventions, where delegates elected by their neighbours would represent their interests and place limits on the power of state legislators.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Unity of the nation | The Articles of Confederation had sorely tested the unity of the nation |
| Power of the government | The current government was so powerless that it would soon dissolve |
| Power of the states | The states would no longer bother to send representatives to the Confederation Congress |
| Power of Congress | The Constitution created a stronger central government with a Congress that had the power to tax |
| Power of the President | The Constitution created a stronger central government with a President who would act as the nation's chief executive |
| Power of the courts | The Constitution created a stronger central government with a national court system |
| Amendments | Some states might ratify the Constitution with amendments and some without them |
| Ratification process | The delegates decided that nine states would be appropriate to implement the Constitution among the ratifying states |
| Role of delegates | The delegates were not being asked to relinquish their power; they were being asked to place limits upon the power of their state legislators |
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What You'll Learn
George Washington's support for ratification
George Washington was elected president of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, but rarely participated in the debates. However, when the Constitution was sent to the states for approval, Washington took an active role in the ratification process.
Before leaving Philadelphia for Virginia, Washington sent copies of the document to Thomas Jefferson and the Marquis de Lafayette, hoping for their support. He also sent copies to Benjamin Harrison, Patrick Henry, and Edmund Randolph, the three most recent governors of Virginia, who each had serious reservations about the Constitution. Once back home at Mount Vernon, Washington spent his mornings writing letters to political leaders throughout the nation, urging them to support the Constitution.
Federalists used Washington's image as support for the ratification of the Constitution. Washington's 17 September 1787 letter to the president of Congress was attached to the Constitution whenever it was printed. The letter stated:
> 'The Constitution, which we now present, is the result of a spirit of amity and of that mutual deference and concession which the peculiarity of our political situation rendered indispensable.'
With Washington supporting the Constitution, it was difficult for Antifederalists to explain why they opposed ratification. Washington's private correspondence left little room for speculation.
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Federalist leaders' strategy to avoid opposition
The Federalist leaders' strategy to avoid opposition to the ratification of the Constitution was to send the document to the states without congressional approbation. This was to avoid any indication that there was opposition to the Constitution in Congress. The Federalists also included the word "unanimously" in the congressional resolution of 28 September 1787, sending the Constitution to the states with the recommendation that specially-elected conventions be called to ratify the Constitution.
The Federalists knew that the unanimity requirement of the Articles would doom any hopes of ratification. They felt it necessary to obtain majorities of both states and people. Ratification by seven small states might not provide a majority of people. So, on 31 August, the delegates decided that nine states would be appropriate to implement the Constitution among the ratifying states.
The framers also avoided asking the legislators to approve a document that would require them to give up a degree of their own power. Instead, they called upon state legislatures to hold ratification conventions to approve the Constitution. The men attending the ratification conventions were not being asked to relinquish their power; they were being asked to place limits upon the power of their state legislators, whom they may not have elected in the first place.
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The role of state legislatures in the ratification process
The framers avoided asking the legislators to approve a document that would require them to give up a degree of their own power. Instead, they were being asked to place limits on the power of their state legislators, whom they may not have elected in the first place.
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention determined the method most likely to ensure their proposal's adoption. With Rhode Island not even represented in the Convention and New York likely to oppose any significant transfer of power from the states to Congress, the delegates knew that the unanimity requirement of the Articles would doom any hopes of ratification. They felt it necessary to obtain majorities of both states and people.
James Madison of Virginia argued against any amendments, suggesting that some states might ratify the Constitution with amendments and some without them. With an overwhelming majority, Federalists could easily have sent the Constitution to the states with approbation. But, because they wanted to avoid any indication that there was opposition to the Constitution in Congress, they agreed to send the Constitution to the states without congressional approbation if all debate over the Constitution (including Lee’s bill of rights) would be stricken from Congress’ Journals.
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The Articles of Confederation's impact on unity
The Articles of Confederation had a significant impact on the unity of the nation. The Articles, which established the nation's first governing document, created a weak central government that relied heavily on the consent of the states. This led to a lack of unity as the states often acted in their own self-interest rather than for the good of the nation as a whole.
George Washington, in his correspondence, expressed concern that the current government was so powerless that it would soon dissolve. He feared that the people would lose faith in their government or that states would simply stop sending representatives to the Confederation Congress. Washington and other Federalists believed that a stronger central government was needed to unite the nation.
The Articles of Confederation required unanimity for any changes to be made, which made it difficult to ratify any amendments. This posed a challenge for the ratification of the Constitution, as some states might ratify it with amendments while others might not. To avoid this, Federalist leaders sent the Constitution to the states without congressional approbation, recommending that specially-elected conventions be called to ratify it.
The ratification process itself also impacted unity. By calling upon state legislatures to hold ratification conventions, the framers of the Constitution avoided asking legislators to give up their power directly. Instead, they were asked to place limits on the power of their state legislators, which was a more palatable proposition. This approach helped to ensure that the ratification process would be driven by the interests of the people, rather than the legislators themselves.
Overall, the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the subsequent ratification of the Constitution played a crucial role in shaping the nation's unity. The Articles highlighted the need for a stronger central government, while the ratification process demonstrated the importance of obtaining the support of both the states and the people.
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The importance of a strong central government
The Federalist leaders wanted to avoid any indication of opposition to the Constitution in Congress, so they agreed to send it to the states without congressional approbation. They also included the word "unanimously" in the congressional resolution, sending the Constitution to the states with the recommendation that specially-elected conventions be called to ratify it.
The delegates at the Constitutional Convention knew that the unanimity requirement of the Articles would make ratification difficult, so they decided that nine states would be appropriate to implement the Constitution among the ratifying states. This was the number of states necessary in the Confederation Congress to adopt important matters.
By calling upon state legislatures to hold ratification conventions, the framers of the Constitution avoided asking the legislators to approve a document that would require them to give up their power. Instead, they were being asked to place limits upon the power of their state legislators. The new nation was to be a republic in which power was held by the people through their elected representatives, so it was considered appropriate to leave the ultimate acceptance or rejection of the Constitution to the nation's citizens.
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Frequently asked questions
Washington believed that the unity of the nation had been tested under the Articles of Confederation, and that the current government was so powerless that it would soon dissolve. While the Constitution was not perfect, 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.
The delegates decided that nine states would be appropriate to implement the Constitution among the ratifying states. This was the number of states necessary in the Confederation Congress to adopt important matters such as borrowing money, declaring war, ratifying treaties, and admitting new states into the Union.
The framers called upon state legislatures to hold ratification conventions to approve the Constitution, rather than asking the legislators to approve a document that would require them to give up their own power. The men attending the ratification conventions were delegates elected by their neighbours to represent their interests.
Madison argued that some states might ratify the Constitution with amendments and some without them. He suggested that Federalists could have sent the Constitution to the states with approbation, but they wanted to avoid any indication that there was opposition to the Constitution in Congress.
