5.4 Ratifying the Constitution

Ratifying the Constitution

Module 5
Lesson 4

Multiple Choice

In 1787, delegates at the constitutional convention met and eventually created the ____________________.

• Articles of Confederation

• Declaration of Independence

• United States Constitution

• Louisiana Purchase

Labelling

Identify the following

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

New York

Pennsylvania

New Jersey

Massachusetts

​​Federalists

• Opposed the Constitution and did not want a new government.

• Thought it weakened the rights of states

• George Mason, Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry were antifederalists

• Most were small farmers

• They were upset that the new constitution did not include a section that guaranteed individual rights. 

• Mercy Otis Warren wrote Observations on the New Constitution which criticized the lack of individual rights

​​antifederalists

• Supported the Constitution

• Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton,

• Most were wealthy planters, lawyers and farmers

• believed that the constitution created a good balance of power

​Debate over the Constitution
Thomas Jefferson supported the constitution but called for a Bill of Rights

Multiple Choice

The ___________ are for the ratification (approval) of the U.S Constitution.

• Federalists

• Anti-Federalists

• Whiggs

• Representatives

Multiple Choice

The ___________ are NOT for the ratification (approval) of the U.S Constitution.

• Anti-Federalists.

• Federalists.

• Whiggs.

• Supreme Court Justices.

​

• Series of essays that supported and defended the constitution

• Written anonymously under the name “Publius”

• Actually written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison

• Goal of the papers was to reassure Americans that the new government would not overpower the states

• Printed around the country and then published in a book in 1788

Federalist Papers

Dropdown

Which state had the most widespread support for the Federalist cause?​

Select answer

• Delaware becomes the first state to ratify the constitution in December 1787

• Constitution went into effect in June 1788 when New Hampshire became the 9th state to ratify it

• Debates occurred in the large states like Virginia and New York but all eventually ratified.

​

Ratification

• in the first session of the new congress James Madison encouraged the creation of the Bill of Rights

• The first 10 amendments (official changes) to the constitution are known as the Bill of Rights

• Bill of Rights protected individual freedoms.

​

Bill of Rights

• the founders of the constitution provided a way to make changes to the document as needed

• Changes reflect changes in society

• The process requires that proposed amendments must be approved by 2/3 majority of both houses of Congress

​

Amending the constitution

Multiple Choice

Federalists supported the constitution.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Antifederalists opposed the Constitution

• True

• False

Multiple Select

Why did Antifederalists such as George Mason, James Monroe, and Patrick Henry object to the constitution? CHOOSE 2

• gave too much power to the federal government

• gave too much power to the state government

• created a bill of rights

• had no bill of rights

Multiple Choice

When did the Constitution go into effect?

• June 1788

• June 1782

• July 4 1776

• August 1888

Multiple Choice

Why did Congress add the Bill of Rights?

• because it was a good idea

• it was always part of the constitution

• because several states would not ratify the constitution without

• because George Washington required it

Multiple Choice

What position did Thomas Jefferson take in the making of the constitution?

• He was against it

• he fully supported it

• he was supportive but also wanted a bill of rights

Multiple Choice

Why was it important that all 13 states ratify the constitution?

• false- it wasn't important

• because New Jersey would end up being too powerful

• national unity would be weak if not all states ratified it