Ratifying the Constitution

Who was the primary author of The Federalist Papers, writing 51 of the 85 articles published to increase support for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution?

Alexander Hamilton is considered the primary author of The Federalist Papers. Hamilton wrote 51 of the articles, James Madison wrote 29 and John Jay added 5. These articles were instrumental in securing ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

This series of articles was written in 1787 urging Americans to oppose the ratification of the proposed United States Constitution.

Anti-Federalist

This was an author of the Virginia Plan, considered to be the "Father of the Constitution," and President during the War of 1812.

James Madison

The Federalist Papers were written to encourage

The Federalist Papers were written to encourage the ratification of the Constitution. They stated the opinions of the people that eventually comprised the Federalist Party.

The Founding Fathers gained support for the Constitution by promising that

The Founding Fathers gained support for the Constitution by promising a Bill of Rights would be established. Had the Federalists not agreed to add a Bill of Rights later, the Constitution likely would not have been approved by the states.

This means "to approve," and is what states must do to proposed Constitutional amendments and the Senate must do to treaties just to name a few.

Ratify

The Anti-Federalists feared

The Anti Federalists feared that the national government would become too powerful and limit personal rights. The Anti Federalists insisted on a Bill of Rights added to the US Constitution to protect citizens' rights.

Why did the Anti-Federalists push for the addition of a Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution?

The Anti-Federalists believed the people's liberties needed protection from the government. Their pressure and threats to block ratification of the Constitution led the Federalists to agree to add a "Bill of Rights" to the Constitution if it were to be ratified.

While the Federalists wanted a strong executive branch led by a President, the Anti-Federalists feared a President because

They feared the President would become just like the King that they had fought against in the Revolution. Most Anti-Federalists saw the Constitution as a betrayal of the ideals of the American Revolution. They feared a government and a President who would tell them what to do.

This early American political party was founded by Alexander Hamilton and based upon the belief that a strong national government was critical to the survival of the nation

Federalist

Those who supported adoption of the Constitution were called

Those who supported adoption of the Constitution were called Federalists, because they supported the federal (or central) government made possible by the Constitution.

One of the major conflicts between northern and southern states in the writing of the new Constitution centered on

Determining how to count slaves in the census was one of the major conflicts in the writing of the new Constitution. Northern states did not want to count slaves as people for the purpose of the census, but southern states wanted each one to count a full person. The final decision, known as the 3/5ths Compromise, determined that every five slaves would be counted as three whole people in the census.

( "By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community. There are two methods of curing the mischiefs of faction: the one, by removing its causes; the other, by controlling its effects.' - James Madison, Federalist 10, The Federalist Papers) In Federalist 10, the factions James Madison refers to would most likely be

Madison and the other framers of the Constitution addressed fears that small groups of radical voters (factions) could elect politicians from radical political parties to Congress that would cause great harm to the government. Madison argued that the complexity of Congress would prevent such things, and that laws banning radical parties would be contrary to the American ideal of free speech.

Which is the BEST description of the effect that the ratification of the United States Constitution had on America?

Of the available choices, the BEST description of the effect that the Constitution had on the United States is that it unified the 13 states into a stronger nation than what had existed under the Articles of Confederation. Remember that the national government under the Articles was too weak to effectively govern and the framework of government established in the Constitution was the solution to that problem.

Who is considered the leading Antifederalist, as he opposed ratification of the Constitution, was instrumental in forcing the adoption of the Bill of Rights, and was the leading opponent of James Madison?

Patrick Henry is considered the leader of the Antifederalist faction. He was strongly opposed to ratification, was instrumental in forcing the adoption of the Bill of Rights, and was the leading opponent of James Madison during the debate over ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

( "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." - The United States Constitution) According to the Preamble, which action would be allowed by The Constitution?

The Constitution gives Congress the power to create courts. This ideal is not only stated in the Preamble- "establish justice"- but is also spelled out in Article I.

Which document serves as a primary source for interpretation of the Constitution, as it outlines the philosophy and purpose of the proposed system of government?

The Federalist Papers consisted of 85 articles written between 1787 and 1788 to gain support for ratification of the new system of government .

( "The accumulation of all powers legislative, executive and judiciary in the same hands, whether of one, a few or many, and whether hereditary, self appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny." - James Madison, Federalist 47, The Federalist Papers) James Madison's point in Federalist 47 is that

The Federalist Papers was a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. They argued that the Constitution that was created by the Constitutional Convention months earlier needed to be ratified, and that it created a worthy government that would not abuse power, like the British government, but would have enough power to keep the peace in the United States, unlike the Articles of Confederation had.

The Federalist Papers were written by

The Federalist Papers were written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay in support of ratification of the US Constitution. Published in major newspapers, the essays calmed the fears of many who thought the newly created government would be too strong and powerful.

( "...Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...." - The Declaration of Independence) This phrase in the The Declaration of Independence is also represented in the "Preamble" to the U.S. Constitution. Which phrase BEST represents this statement?

The Preamble begins with the phrase "We the People of the United States". This phrase represents the basic American political philosophy of "consent of the governed. "

The greatest achievement of the Antifederalists was to

The argument over ratification of the Constitution surrouned the addition of a Bill of Rights. The greatest achievement of the antifederalists was toforce the Federalists to agree to add a bill of rights to the Constitution

What is one reason that the Bill of Rights was adopted?

The bill of rights was adopted for many reasons, including to protect the rights and liberties of the states from abuse of power by the newly created government, to sooth the fears of many Anti-Federalists in the United States, and to protect states from the abuse of power by the national government.

The first major political issue faced by the US government after the ratification of the Constitution concerned the proposal of Alexander Hamilton to establish a

The first major political issue faced by the US government after the ratification of the Constitution concerned the proposal of Alexander Hamilton to establish a National Bank. He believed it was vital for the country to start its life with a vibrant upper class, and the National Bank, he believed, was a key to this.

Political parties appeared in the United States shortly after the Constitution was adopted because

The first political parties in the United States grew out of the differences that arose over political and economic issues. Those who were more affluent wanted less government power, while those who had less wealth preferred a government that might protect their rights.

The first Ten Amendments to the Constitution are known as

The first ten amendments were added at the urging of Anti-Federalists, who were concerned that the Constitution did not provide any guarantees of individual freedom, nor did it provide citizens any protection from the government. The Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791.

How did the Federalists convince the Anti-Federalists to ratify the United States constitution?

To convince the Anti-Federalists to ratify the United States constitution the Federalists promised to add a bill of rights. The Anti-Federalists were concerned that the constitution, as it was, did not protect individual freedoms. The Bill of Rights was added after ratification.

( Charles Pinckney (Representative of South Carolina) Speech at Ratification Convention May 14, 1788: I trust that when we proceed to review the system by sections, it will be found to contain all those necessary provisions and restraints, which while they enable the general government to guard and protect our common rights as a nation, to restore to us those blessings of commerce and mutual confidence which have been so long removed and impaired, will secure to use those rights which as the citizens of a state will make us happy and content at home as the citizens of the Union respectable abroad.) Base on this excerpt, which document was Charles Pinckney supporting?

Using the prompt above, the document that Charles Pinckney was supporting was the U.S. Constitution. Pinckney saw that there were economic problems caused by the weakness of the Articles of Confederation and supported adopting the Constitution.