Ratification: Bill of Rights
Signing the Constitution, 1787
Timeline
• • • • May 14, 1787 Sept 17, 1787 June 1788 May 1790 Convention begins Constitution signed Constitution becomes active Last states signs Constitution
Constitutional Convention
• Sept 17, 1787
– thirty nine of remaining forty two delegates sign Constitution - George Mason – send to people for approval
• why is this so radical?
– A continuation of the revolutionary spirit o f’76 – Circumventing state legislatures – but most signers think the “commons” are fools!
– Gouverneur Morris comes up with a phrase to introduce the Constitution… “We the People, in order to form a more perfect Union…”
Ratification
• States hold the special conventions to determine ratification of the new Constitution
– 9 of 13 must pass for the constitution to go into effect – change from Articles
• amendment required unanimity
• most states have well publicized debates • large states MA, NY, PA, VA are considered necessary for ultimate adoption.
Anti-Federalists
• Opponents of the Constitution
– offer traditional republican fears
• expansion of central government will lead to corruption and control by aristocrats • large republic would separate legislators from the interests of their constituents • executive salaries, power
– attack absence of a Bill of Rights – poor national program (of course, they were localists!).
Federalists
• Supporters of the Constitution • attacks lead Madison, Hamilton and John Jay to write The Federalist Papers
– written for New York elections – reprinted throughout colonies – become modern method of interpreting “correct meaning” of the Constitution – Federalist Number 10 (in your readings)
• turns conventional wisdom about size of republics on its head.
A tight series of elections
• Tight elections in many states cause Federalists to change tactics
– from “its just perfect …” – to “we can always amend it…” – to “we’ll amend it after it is passed…”
• major result of Anti-Federalist opposition is the Bill of Rights.
Results of the Debates
• new government represents awareness that interest rather than virtue runs the government • this is the second American Revolution..