Ratification Of The U.s. Constitution

Analyze the major concerns generated by the writing and ratification of the U.S. Constitution. (1786-1792)

The Constitution had to be ratified by the states before it went into full effect; however, states had different ideas and hopes for their new government, so a national debate over ratifying the constitution sparked. In general, there were two big parties that had opposing ideas; the federalists supported the constitution, and the anti-federalists did not support this fairly new document. Additionally, the constitution needed 9 out of 13 states to sign off the Constitution before it became official, but in order for the Articles of Confederation to be amended there had to be a united consent within the nation. The major fears produced by the writing and ratification of the United States constitution stemmed from the difference between classes; for instance, the “common man” had different views and opinions compared to the “elite man.”

Following the states’ need to approve of the Constitution, both the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists began producing papers that argued for their point of view in detail. Anti-federalists, who were the small farmers, laborers, and other middle class men, inclined to believe in a strong state government and a weak national government; additionally, they demanded a Bill of Rights to strengthen individual liberties. For instance, Jefferson Writings wrote to James Madison in 1787, “… a bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just government should refuse,” which meant to explain that a Bill of Rights would protect people’s freedoms and prevent corruption from the government that the Federalists envisioned, (Docume...

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...ared that the ratification was not going to be achieved. For instance, John Jay wrote a letter to George Washington in 1786 explaining how at least during the American Revolution all people were united for the same goal, but now their objective is unclear and chaotic, (Document D). All together majority of the people demanded a full presentation within the government, “yet if it is deficient in this essential principle of a full and just representation of the people, it will only be a painted sepulcher,” meaning that without a solid list of rights protecting people and balance within the branches of government everything will collapse, (Document F). The main doubts created by the writing and ratification of the United States Constitution evolved from the between the federalists and the antifederalists, who had different visions of how the government should be run.