Ratification of the Constitution

 

The Constitution was to go into effect when 9 of the 13 states ratified it through state conventions

 

Federalists: supporters of the Constitution

 

     national interest over state interest

     mainly business and propertied classes

     believed that Constitution created a

           stable, respectable government

 

Anti-Federalists: opposed to the Constitution

 

     state interest over national interest

     mainly farmers and city workers

     believed the Constitution:  

           protected the upper class

           threatened state government

           did not protect people from

                government

 

The Bill of Rights was added to appease this Anti-Federalist argument

New York was the 11th state to ratify the Constitution

 

Once Washington was elected,

     North Carolina and finally Rhode Island

     ratified it

 

Why were the Federalists successful?

 

They were well organized and had more funds

 

The Anti-Federalists were supporting the Articles which were a failure

 

Most Federalists could vote in conventions, while many Anti-Federalists could not

 

Publication of the Federalist Papers by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James

     Madison which pursuaded people to

     support the Constitution

 

Support of influential men such as Washington and Franklin