Ratifying the Constitution Overview

To approve or formally accept something, usually a legal document.

Advocates of the new Constitution, favoring a strong central government.

Opponents of the new Constitution, arguing for stronger state governments.

A group of people united by common interests, often with goals that benefit their group at the expense of others.

A list of basic rights guaranteed to citizens, added to the Constitution after it was ratified.

The essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay to support ratification of the Constitution.

The process where the states voted on whether to accept the Constitution.

The group who argued that a strong national government was essential for the success of the new nation.

Washington's ability to lead during the war and his voluntary relinquishment of power after the war made people believe he was committed to acting within the law.

Federalists saw Washington's support as a sign of the legitimacy of a stronger central government and a powerful executive.

Smaller states like Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Georgia ratified the Constitution quickly because they believed they would benefit from being part of a larger federal structure, fearing a war with Native Americans and wanting a strong national government for support, respectively.

The Federalist offer to support amendments to the Constitution, which would protect citizens' rights, turned the tide in close states like Massachusetts, Virginia, and New York.

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantee individual rights, were proposed by Congress in September 1789 and ratified by the states in 1791.

Most Federalists, who supported a strong central government, initially believed that the Constitution itself was sufficient to protect citizens' rights and that a Bill of Rights wasn't necessary.

The belief that government power should be limited and individual liberties should be protected.

The belief that a strong central government is necessary for the stability and success of the nation.

An uprising of farmers in Massachusetts who protested against high taxes and debt, highlighting the weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

A document that established a weak central government and granted limited powers to the national government.

The leader of the Constitutional Convention and the first President of the United States, considered a national icon and a powerful symbol of unity.

The Federalists managed to win ratification of the Constitution by compromising with Anti-Federalists on the Bill of Rights.

Federalists favored a strong national government, while Anti-Federalists favored strong state governments. Both sides were focused on maintaining the rights of the people.

The addition of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution was a turning point in the nation's history because it ensured the protection of individual rights. It was a compromise that led to the success of the new government.