Topic 4 Lesson 3

Establishing the New Nation Lesson 3 The Enduring
Constitution

Establishing the New Nation Lesson 3 The Enduring
Constitution

Learning Objectives

•Summarize the arguments for and against ratification of the Constitution.

•Describe how the Constitution was ratified.

•Explain the principles of the Constitution.

Establishing the New Nation Lesson 3 The Enduring
Constitution

Key Terms

•ratification

•Federalists

•Antifederalists

•The Federalist

•John Jay

•Bill of Rights

•popular sovereignty

•limited government

•separation of powers

•checks and balances

•electoral college

The Debate Over Ratification

The delegates to the Constitutional Convention had designed a strong federal
government. As you learned, all but three delegates endorsed the new Constitution,
despite the fact that many felt it was imperfect. After most of the delegates signed it, the
proposed Constitution was printed, circulated, and hotly debated. The question remained
whether the states would accept the proposed plan. If they did not, what would become
of the new nation?

The Debate Over Ratification

•Federalists and Antifederalists Face Off

○federalists (Washington, Madison, Hamilton)

■favored ratification

■stressed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

•Antifederalists Argue Against a Strong Government

○antifederalists (Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, John Hancock)

■opposed ratification

■denounced as a retreat from liberty won by the Revolution

■demanded a Bill of Rights to protect basic liberties

■denounced a strong central government

•

Ratification- official approval
To improve the odds of ratification, delegates arbitrilay decided to change the rules
-9 of 13 needed for approval
-specifically elected conventions would vote on ratification

Multiple Choice

What best describes the Antifederalists' view of the new Constitution?

• They felt that it would hurt interstate and international commerce.

• They feared it would give the central government too much power.

• They believed it would give too much autonomy to the individual states.

• They thought it would leave the country vulnerable to foreign powers.

•The Federalists Win Support

○most farmers did not support ratification

○was supported by Washington & B Franklin -very influential

○hoped a stronger government would help with Indian relations and British forts

○had support in seaports

○urban artisan supported ratification

○federalist were better organized

•The Federalist Papers

○The Federalist- a series of 85 essays (John Jay)

■argued separation of powers in 3 branches of government would prevent the
concentration of power feared by the antifederlist

■checks & balances would prevent any of the 3 branches from becoming to
powerful

■insisted the real threat to liberty comes from state legislatures, which lacked
checks & balances

Multiple Choice

The Federalist Papers were

• a series of essays written in support of the new Constitution.

• a series of proposed amendments to the Articles of Confederation.

• a collection of legal documents distributed to the delegates of each state.

• a collection of pamphlets against creating a strong federal government.

The Debate Over Ratification

An announcement of the resolution in favor of the new Constitution

The Debate Over Ratification

Analyze Information What was the main issue over which Federalists and Antifederalists disagreed?

The Debate Over Ratification

Analyze MapsIn which regions was support for Federalists strongest? In which regions was support for
Antifederalists strongest? What factors may explain these differences?

Ratifying Conventions in the States

Exploiting their advantages, the Federalists pushed for quick ratifying conventions in five
states. By mid-January 1788, the Federalists had won ratification in Delaware,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. These early victories generated
momentum. To complete ratification, the Federalists needed only four of the remaining
eight states. But the Antifederalists mounted a stronger fight in those states.

Ratifying Conventions in the States

•The States Ratify the Constitution

○federalist faced defeat until they made 2 key concessions

■1-hinted that John Hancock could become vice president if he switched
side

■2- promised to support amendments to the Constitution

●promise to add a Bill of Rights (only after ratification)

○eventually all 13 states ratified the Constitution-Support of Virginia & New York was essential

○New York City became the temporary capital

○March 4, 1789- first congress convened at Freedom Hall

•The Bill of Rights

○antifederalist deserve credit for the Bill of Rights

○Bill of Rights-respect individual liberties

■first 10 amendments

○drafted by Madison

Multiple Choice

Why was the Bill of Rights added to the Constitution?

• to encourage states that allowed slavery to ratify the new Constitution

• to gain the support of Antifederalists during the ratification process

• to promote a system of checks and balances of federal power

• to ensure a strict separation of powers between branches was maintained

Ratifying Conventions in the States

Massachusetts legislators debated the proposed constitution at Boston's Old State House, shown here.

Multiple Choice

Which statement explains why Federalists promised to add a bill of rights once the Constitution was ratified?

• They wanted to assure Antifederalists that the new federal government would respect individual liberties.

• They wanted to demonstrate that the system of checks and balances would effectively limit the power of the federal government.

• They wanted to make sure that the new system went into effect with a minimum set of civil and criminal laws already in existence.

• They wanted to show that the Constitution truly embodied the republican principles for which the Revolutionary War had been fought.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following did the ratification of the Constitution by Virginia and New York do?

• It provided a regional balance of representation in the new Congress.

• It reaffirmed popular support for the new federal government.

• It provided the minimum number of states to put the Constitution into operation.

• It demonstrated that Antifederalist fears about abuses of power were unwarranted.

Ratifying Conventions in the States

Analyze Information How did the experiences of the colonies under British rule likely contribute to the
Antifederalists’ desire to include rights such as these in the U.S. Constitution?

Constitutional Principles

The republic established by the Constitution of the United States became a symbol of
freedom not only to Americans but also to countries in Europe and to republics in Latin
America. The authors of the Constitution established a representative government based
on these basic principles: popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers,
federalism, checks and balances, and representative government.

Constitutional Principles

•Popular Sovereignty

○all government power comes from the people

•Limited Government

○specifically states the power of the government-none is above the law

•Separation of Powers

○divides government into 3 branches-

■Legislative-makes laws

■Executive-carries out laws

■Judicial-interprets laws

•Federalism

○divides power between national and state governments

•Checks and Balances

○prevent one branch from gaining too much power

•Representative Government

○indirect democracy

•The Constitution Endures

○supreme law of the land-1789

○230 years-endured

○7000 words

○flexibility

○since Bill of Rights–only 17 amendments

Multiple Choice

What best summarizes the Constitution's underlying principle of popular sovereignty?

• The people elect officials to represent them in government.

• The government derives its political authority from the people.

• The government must guarantee certain basic rights to the people.

• The people have the right to overthrow the government as they see fit.

Multiple Choice

Which principle of the Constitution divides power between the state and federal governments?

• federalism

• limited government

• checks and balances

• separation of powers

Multiple Choice

The requirement that the ratification of the Constitution take place in state ratifying conventions is an example of which Constitutional principle?

• federalism

• due process

• limited government

• indirect democracy

Multiple Choice

Judicial review is the idea, fundamental to the US system of government, that the actions of the executive and legislative branches of government are subject to review and possible invalidation by the judicial branch. Judicial review allows the Supreme Court to take an active role in ensuring that the other branches of government abide by the constitution.

—Legal Information Institute

Which of these constitutional principles does the power of judicial review most directly protect?

• federalism

• limited government

• popular sovereignty

• direct democracy

Constitutional Principles

Analyze Diagrams How did the powers granted to the new U.S. branches of government solve the
problems of concentrating power in one body under the Articles of Confederation?

Constitutional Principles

One duty of the head of the executive branch—here, President Barack Obama—is to report to the
legislative branch about the state of the Union in an annual speech.

Constitutional Principles

Analyze Information Based on this infographic, which checks seem to be used more frequently to
balance the power of the branches? Which seem to be used less frequently? What may explain these
differences?

Constitutional Principles

Analyze Maps Based on this map, how has the United States applied the rules of the Constitution to
the structure of the U.S. Congress over time?

Multiple Choice

The Bill of Rights most likely would not have been ratified by enough of the states if it had included which of the following?

• a blanket statement about the equality of all humans

• an unambiguous description of due process and probable cause

• a clear disclaimer that would allow other rights to be added late

• a detailed listing of the religious freedoms that would be protected

Multiple Choice

The scene shown in this photo demonstrates

• the veto and veto-override powers built into the Constitution.

• communication between the different branches of government.

• the protection of individual liberty through both laws and enforcement.

• cooperation between citizens to serve the public good.

Multiple Choice

What aspect of the Constitution did the Federalists emphasize to address concerns that the federal government would be too powerful under the new Constitution?

• checks and balances

• equality among voters

• strong executive

• strong legislature

Multiple Choice

What did Federalists promise in order to win ratification of the Constitution in Massachusetts and other key states?

• to add a Bill of Rights

• to revise the document to give states more power

• to abolish slavery

• to include a process for amendments

Multiple Choice

How has the Constitution been able to adapt to changing circumstances in order to endure for more than 200 years?

• with checks and balances

• through a process for amendments

• by popular vote

• because of separation of powers