The American NationThe American Nation

Chapter 7-Section 4Ratification and the Bill of Rights

Creating a Republic1776–1790

Copyright © 2003 by Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.

Chapter 7, Section 4

Ratification and the Bill of RightsRatification and the Bill of Rights

Objectives to learn:• What were the key issues in the debate

between the Federalists and the Antifederalists?

• How was the Constitution finally ratified?• How was the Bill of Rights added to the

Constitution?

I. Key Issues in the Debate Between Federalists and Antifederalists

I. Key Issues in the Debate Between Federalists and Antifederalists

A. Federalists• for a strong federal, or national,

government.• The Constitution gave the national

government enough power to function effectively.

• The Constitution still protected the rights and powers of the states.

• James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote a series of essays—The Federalist Papers—to explain and defend the Constitution.

• The Constitution already protected the rights of citizens well enough.

B. Antifederalists• against the Constitution.• The Constitution made the

national government too strong.• The Constitution made the states

too weak.• Patrick Henry gave a speech

saying that, under the Constitution, the President had too much power and that someday a President might try to become king.

• The Constitution had no bill of rights to protect natural rights, such as freedom of speech and religion.

Chapter 7, Section 4

Federalists – Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, and George Washington

Federalists – Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, and George Washington

Antifederalists – Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, George Clinton, and Luther Martin

Antifederalists – Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, George Clinton, and Luther Martin

Establishing the Constitution (3:35)Establishing the Constitution (3:35)

II. After Much Debate, the Constitution Was Finally Ratified

II. After Much Debate, the Constitution Was Finally Ratified

December 1787 Delaware was the first to ratify. Pennsylvania and New Jersey soon followed.

February 1788 Sam Adams and John Hancock convinced the Massachusetts convention to recommend adding a bill of rights to the Constitution. Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify.

June 1788 When New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, the new government could go into effect. Still, the largest states—New York and Virginia—had not yet ratified the plan.Virginia voted to ratify the Constitution when the Federalists promised to support a bill of rights.

July 1788 In New York the struggle between Federalists and Antifederalists went on until July.

November 1789 North Carolina

May 1790 Rhode Island became the last state to ratify.

Chapter 7, Section 4

III. A Bill of Rights Was AddedIII. A Bill of Rights Was Added

A. The first election under the Constitution for President and members of Congress was held in January 1789. 1. George Washington was elected as President2. John Adams was elected as Vice-President

B. The first Congress met in New York City. Congress turned its attention to a bill of rights.

C. To amend, or change, the Constitution, Congress followed the process established in the Constitution. Congress proposed twelve amendments. The amendments went to the states for their approval.

D. By December 1791, three fourths of the states had ratified 10 of the 12 amendments. These 10 amendments became known as the Bill of Rights.

Chapter 7, Section 4

IV. The Bill of RightsIV. The Bill of Rights

A. James Madison stressed that these 10 rights are natural rights that the government can not take away.

B. Intended to prevent the kind of abuse Americans suffered under English rule.

C. Intended to protect individual rights as many state constitutions have already done.

D. Created the Constitution as a living document that changes with the growth of the United States.

Establishing the Bill of RightsEstablishing the Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights (1:45)The Bill of Rights (1:45)

IV. The Writing of the ConstitutionIV. The Writing of the ConstitutionChapter 7, Section 4

Cau

ses

• Articles of Confederation creates weak national government

• Trade and money problems arise between states

• Foreign nations take advantage of weak government

• Shays’ Rebellion breaks out

• Convention meets to revise Articles of Confederation T

he

Wri

tin

g o

f th

e C

on

stit

uti

on

Eff

ect

s

• New government includes President and two-house legislature

• Power is divided between national and state governments

• Compromises allow slavery to continue

• States debate and ratify Constitution

• Bill of Rights is added

Eff

ect

s T

od

ay

• United States is world’s oldest continuing constitutional democracy

• Debate about federal versus state power continues

• Amendments extend rights to more citizens

• New democracies look to the Constitution as a model

Section 4 AssessmentSection 4 Assessment

One issue the Federalists and Antifederalists argued over wasa) how to amend the Constitution and add a bill of rights.b) where the nation’s first capital should be.c) how many states had to ratify the Constitution before it could go into

effect.d) whether the Constitution made the central government too strong.

Antifederalists fought to add a bill of rights to the Constitution in order toa) provide a process for amending the Constitution.b) protect the people’s natural rights.c) explain the political theory behind the American system of government.d) make it less difficult for the government to function.

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Chapter 7, Section 4

Section 4 AssessmentSection 4 Assessment

One issue the Federalists and Antifederalists argued over wasa) how to amend the Constitution and add a bill of rights.b) where the nation’s first capital should be.c) how many states had to ratify the Constitution before it could go into

effect.d) whether the Constitution made the central government too strong.

Antifederalists fought to add a bill of rights to the Constitution in order toa) provide a process for amending the Constitution.b) protect the people’s natural rights.c) explain the political theory behind the American system of government.d) make it less difficult for the government to function.

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Chapter 7, Section 4