Debating the Constitution-

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Debating the Constitution-
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Federalists- Video

• Federalists supported a strong central government
• Federalists Papers-essays supporting the
  Constitution
• Famous Federalists-James Madison, Alexander
  Hamilton, John Jay (later applied to John Adams)
• Federalists were supported by Washington and
  Franklin

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Antifederalists- Video

• Opponents of Constitutional ratification were the
  Antifederalists
• Wrote Antifederalists Papers
• Believed Constitution weakened the states, gave
  too much power to President, lacked Bill of
  Rights
• George Mason and Patrick Henry (later applied to
  Jefferson)

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Ratification Debate

• 9 states had to ratify Constitution for it to go
  into effect
• Delawares convention approved it on December 7,
  1787. PA, NJ, GA, CT soon followed
• Antifederalists hoped to win in Mass (site of
  Shays Rebellion). Constitution approved there
  due to Federalist efforts.

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Continued

• MD and SC approved-all eyes on Virginia
• Henry vs. Madison
• Federalists narrowly win out
• June 1788-while VA debating, NH became ninth
  state to approve. NY and NC followed soon after
• RI became last state to approve in May 1790.
• Dr. Benjamin Rush wrote, Tis done. We have
  become a nation.

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Bill of Rights- Video

• 1789-Washington elected President by Congress
  with John Adams as VP
• March 1789-one of the first tasks of new Congress
  was to create Bill of Rights
• Framers wanted to make Constitution flexible
  enough to change-but not to be done easily
• Process made fairly difficult

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Continued

• 1789-Congress passed 10 Amendments (Bill of
  Rights) approved by ¾ of states
• Aimed to protect people against abuses of federal
  government (as was the case in colonial times)