Ratification & New Government 1 Wednesday, February 29 th Final version of Essay 1 and Change Memo: due March 8 th or 9 th at the beginning of lab. Post a digital copy of final version of Essay 1 to Turn-It-In on BlackBoard prior to your lab.
Ratification & New Government 2 RATIFICATION AND A NEW GOVERNMENT
Ratification & New Government 3 Outline Path from proposal to law of the land Anti-federalists and Federalists Federalist Papers State ratifying conventions The first president
Ratification & New Government 4 The Miracle at Philadelphia It appears to me, then, little short of a miracle, that the Delegates from so many different states, should unite in forming a system of national Government, so little liable to well founded objections. Washington to Lafayette, Feb. 7, 1788
Ratification & New Government 5 The Miracle at Philadelphia The whole of them together formed a task more difficult than can be well conceived by those who were not concerned with the execution of it. Adding to these considerations the natural diversity of human opinions on all new and complicated subjects, it is impossible to consider the degree of concord which ultimately prevailed as less than a miracle. Madison to Jefferson, Oct. 24, 1787
Ratification & New Government 6 The Path to Ratification Grand Convention submitted the document to Congress Congress sent it to the states without recommendation States elected delegates to a state convention; simple majority needed Ratification by 9 states would bring the Constitution into existence
Ratification & New Government 7 The Path Not Easy Two consequences of the convention s secrecy rule Reduced the outside pressure on the delegates Created suspicion and surprise Convention had gone way beyond its mandate. No consensus: only 39 of 55 signed Majority of Americans were initially opposed
Ratification & New Government 8 Anti-Federalists George Mason Patrick Henry Richard Henry Lee Samuel Adams
Ratification & New Government 9 Anti-Federalists The Anti-Federalists had three key complaints against proposed constitution: National government would be too powerful. Placed little emphasis on republican virtue. Lacked a bill of rights.
iclicker Which of the following fears of the Anti-Federalists do you think have come to pass? A. Elected officials have become an aristocracy of sorts. B. The states have lost power to the federal government. C. The president acts as a quasi-monarch. D. All of the above. E. None of the above.
Ratification & New Government 11 Federalists James Wilson Edmund Randolph (!) James Madison Alexander Hamilton
Ratification & New Government 12 Federalists The Federalists responded to each criticism Shared sovereignty means that the government would not tyrannize the people. Auxiliary precautions were necessary; not enough to simply depend upon virtue. Agreed to pass a bill of rights. Arguments were focused and intellectually powerful
The Federalist Papers Ratification & New Government 13
Ratification & New Government 14 The Federalist Papers 85 essays printed in New York City newspapers under a pen name (Publius) Authors: Alexander Hamilton (at least 51) James Madison (26) John Jay (5) Powerfully explained and justified the provisions of the Constitution.
Ratification & New Government 15 The Federalist Papers Federalist 1 (Hamilton) The central question: whether societies of men are really capable or not, of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend, for their political constitutions, on accident and force.
Ratification & New Government 16 The Federalist Papers Federalist 5 (Jay) A divided nation invites external and hostile interests ready to exploit the division. Federalist 6 (Hamilton) Men are ambitious, vindictive, and rapacious. Consult the record of history, and you will see what the consequences will be if you do not ratify the Constitution.
Ratification & New Government 17 The Federalist Papers Federalist 10 (Madison) Idea of the extended republic Extend the sphere, and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens. Federalist 51 (Madison) Separation of powers with checks and balances
Ratification & New Government 18 State Ratifying Conventions Several small states ratified quickly Delaware and New Jersey in December 1787 Georgia and Connecticut in January 1788 Pennsylvania ratified early but not without struggle: December 1787 (46-23) The real struggles were in the other large states Massachusetts: February 1788 (187-168) Virginia: June 1788 (89-79) New York: July 1788 (30-27)
Ratification & New Government 19 State Ratifying Conventions State Date Yes Votes No Votes Delaware Dec. 7, 1787 30 0 Pennsylvania Dec. 11, 1787 46 23 New Jersey Dec. 18, 1787 38 0 Georgia Jan. 2, 1788 26 0 Connecticut Jan. 9, 1788 128 40 Massachusetts Feb. 6, 1788 187 168 Rhode Island Mar. 24, 1788 1 10 Maryland Apr. 26, 1788 63 11 South Carolina May 23, 1788 149 73 New Hampshire June 21, 1788 57 47 Virginia June 25, 1788 89 79 New York July 26, 1788 30 27 North Carolina Aug. 2, 1788 NA NA North Carolina Nov. 21, 1789 194 77 Rhode Island May 29, 1790 34 32
Ratification & New Government 20 The First President George Washington elected unanimously in 1789. John Adams as Vice President
Ratification & New Government 21 Video: The First President President Washington was very conscious of the role of precedent.
Ratification & New Government 22 The First President George Washington elected unanimously in 1789. John Adams as Vice President Took oath of office on April 30, 1789 at Federal Hall in New York City Initial cabinet included Alexander Hamilton (Treasury) Thomas Jefferson (State)
Ratification & New Government 23 The First President Job of first President was extremely challenging Much of the role of the President was left ambiguous in the Constitution Washington and his cabinet had to make many key decisions and set many precedents. Washington served two successful terms The people chose the best person for the job. He could be wholly trusted.
Ratification & New Government 24 The First President Washington s Farewell Address three main points Avoid the baneful effects of the Spirit of Party. Avoid becoming involved in foreign entanglements America is not a secular republic but a religious and moral one
Ratification & New Government 25 Washington s Farewell Address Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports...and let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. September 19, 1796