Ratification - Federalists and Anti Federalists

Ratification - Federalists and Anti Federalists

by Olivia Landry

Think about the following as you are looking at the cartoon - What do you notice about the cartoon? What do you think the cartoon is about? What is significant about the ninth pillar?

Open Ended

What did you notice about the cartoon on the previous slide? What do you think the cartoon is about? What is significant about the ninth pillar?

Open Ended

In your own words, explain what Benjamin Franklin is discussing on the previous slide.

Multiple Choice

What does ratification mean?

• officially approve

• deny

• create

• overturn

Multiple Choice

When will the Constitution go into effect?

• When all 13 states vote to ratify it.

• When Northern states agree to count slaves toward the total population.

• When large states agree to equal representation in Congress.

• When 9 of out 13 states vote to ratify it.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are characteristics of a Federalist? (choose 3)

• For strong central government

• For ratifying the Consitution

• For a system of federalism

• Against ratifying the Constitution

• For strong state governments

Multiple Select

Which of the following are Federalists? (choose 3)

• Alexander Hamilton

• Patrick Henry

• James Madison

• John Jay

• Mercy Otis Warren

Multiple Select

Which of the following is a characteristic of the Anti-Federalists? (choose 3)

• weak central government

• strong central government

• wanted a Bill of Rights

• against the new Constitution

Multiple Select

Which of the following are Anti-Federalists? (choose two)

• James Madison

• Patrick Henry

• George Mason

• John Jay

Multiple Choice

What was the purpose of the Federalist Papers and who were the authors?

• To encourage public support of the new Constitution written by Hamilton, Jay, and Madison

• To discourage support of the new Constitution written by Hamilton, Jay, and Madison

• To encourage public support of the new Constitution written by Mason and Gerry

• To discourage public support of the new Constitution written by Mason and Gerry

Multiple Select

Which of the following are arguments listed in the Federalist Paper?

• Federalism will divide power between the federal and state governments and provide a double protection against unjust power.

• A Bill of Rights is not necessary because the Constitution is written in a way that already divides power and clearly defines limits.

• A Bill of Rights is necessary to protect individual rights from a government that could become too powerful.

• The new government keeps power with state governments and provides the states to act like individual countries.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following explains the main argument Anti-Federalists have against the new Constitution?

• A Bill of Rights is not necessary since the new government already clearly defines and limits government power.

• A Bill of Rights must be included in the new Constitution to more clearly define the limits of government power and protect individual rights.

• A president will act like a king.

Multiple Choice

By June of 1788 the ninth state ratified the new Constitution, and it officially went into effect, however, New York and Virginia had not yet ratified. Why did this prove problematic?

• It was not an issue, New York and Virginia don't matter much since they are small states.

• New York and Virginia had the most slaves and the least political influcence.

• New York and Virginia delegates did not create ratifying conventions in their states.

• New York and Virginia are the most populous states and wield the most political power. It is imperative that these states ratify the Constitution since they represent the largest percentage of the population.

Multiple Choice

Why did Virginia vote to ratify the Constitution?

• Virginia wanted to set a precedent for the other states to follow by ratifying first.

• Virginia never ratified the Constitution.

• Virginia only agreed to ratify the Constitution when a Bill of Rights was guaranteed to be added as soon as all states ratified the document.

​Let's Practice!

For the next few slides, you will read a quote. You will decide if the quote is from a Federalist or an Anti-Federalist on the slide that follows.

​

​Remember:

Federalists are FOR the Constitution. If the quote is praising or defending the Constitution, it is probably a Federalist.

​Anti-Federalists are AGAINST the Constitution. If the quote is a complaint about the Constitution, it is probably an Anti-Federalist.

Multiple Choice

"The national government is limited to only those powers granted to it. All powers not delegated to it remain in the hands of the individual states."

Federalist or Anti-Federalist?

• Federalist

• Anti-Federalist

​"The national government is limited to only those powers granted to it. All powers not delegated to it remain in the hands of the individual states."

​This is a Federalist because it is describing how the government's power is LIMITED. Any power the federal government does NOT have is given to the states. The federal government is not all powerful. Some of it's power is given to state governments.

Multiple Choice

"A president, chosen by an electoral college with broadly stated powers, who can serve for an unlimited time, looks too much like a monarch."

Federalist or Anti-Federalist?

• Federalist

• Anti-Federalist

"A president, chosen by an electoral college with broadly stated powers, who can serve for an unlimited time, looks too much like a monarch."

​This is an Anti-Federalist because it is a criticism of the president. The speaker is concerned that a president can gain too much power for himself and become like a king. When the Constitution was written, there was no term limits for the president. The president could run for as many terms as he wanted. Washington (the first president) only served two terms. Later presidents just following his example until the 1940s.

Multiple Choice

"...listing the rights of the people could be dangerous since those making this list could omit some rights."

Federalist or Anti-Federalist?

• Federalist

• Anti-Federalist

"...listing the rights of the people could be dangerous since those making this list could omit some rights."

​This is a Federalist because it is a criticism of the Bill of Rights. The speaker does not agree that a Bill of Rights is necessary. He argues that it is impossible to list every right that Americans have.

Multiple Choice

"The president serves a four year term and can be removed from office through the impeachment process. In addition, the Congress and the judiciary are given powers which allow them to balance and check the actions of the President. Thus, the president will NOT be like a monarch."

Federalist or Anti-Federalist?

• Federalist

• Anti-Federalist

"The president serves a four year term and can be removed from office through the impeachment process. In addition, the Congress and the judiciary are given powers which allow them to balance and check the actions of the President. Thus, the president will NOT be like a monarch."

​This is a Federalist because the speaker describes how the president's power is limited. The president only serves for four years at a time and can be "fired" from his position. The Congress and Supreme Court will check on the president's actions.

Multiple Choice

"Is it not possible to find a set of representatives who are familiar with all parts of the continent? Can you find men in Georgia who know what's happening in New Hampshire, who know what taxes will best suit its inhabitants, and how much they can afford? Can the best men make laws for the people they know nothing about?"

Federalist or Anti-Federalist?

• Federalist

• Anti-Federalist

"Is it not possible to find a set of representatives who are familiar with all parts of the continent? Can you find men in Georgia who know what's happening in New Hampshire, who know what taxes will best suit its inhabitants, and how much they can afford? Can the best men make laws for the people they know nothing about?"

​This is an Anti-Federalist because the speaker discusses his concerns about how members of Congress will really be able to enact legislation for the entire country even though most Congressmen will know nothing about the status of people in other states. It is an overall criticism of the Constitution.