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Ratifying the Constitution: Antifederalist Opposition and Federalist Persuasion

Explore the tensions, debates, and strategies surrounding the ratification of the US Constitution, from the fears of the Antifederalists to the persuasive efforts of the Federalist writers like Madison, Jay, and Hamilton.

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Ratifying the Constitution: Antifederalist Opposition and Federalist Persuasion

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  1. Ratifying The Constitution

  2. Why Ratification? • The Philadelphia Convention* • An anxious nation and public wanted to know – what happened? • Secrecy of proceedings, decision to scrap the Articles, etc. • Worry about consequences, awareness of colonial rivalries. • Factions in each state already. • Method Of Approval • Sent to state legislatures – nine of thirteen colonies must ratify.* • Why no popular vote? Why not vote by town meetings, etc? • Theory of a confederation’s nature – constituent parts, etc. • Biggest colonies MUST ratify…

  3. The Antifederalists • The Disunited Opposition • Variety of reasons and variety of social classes and origins. • Many were important or powerful in state legislatures. • Believed pre-existing doubts about the convention were borne out – aristocracy, centralization, etc • Anti-Federalists: a federalist term? • Remember contingency here – not morons or bad guys of history. • Three Kinds of Antifederalists • Skeptical about design of Constitution to prevent divides. • Believers that the Philadelphia structure would veer out of control. • Advocates of the Articles in order to preserve state-level prerogatives.

  4. Letters of Centinel • A National Conversation • Practice of writing under pen names – common in this generation • Founding generation’s education predisposes them to love references to Classical Greco-Roman history. • The Society of the Cincinnatti • Jefferson’s dinner table story re: Hamilton • Early opposition in essays by “Brutus, Cato, Centinel” antifed. sentiments. • Rebuttal essays launched as a more organized project – Publius, Caesar. • Who is the audience here? • The Letters of Centinel

  5. The Letters of Publius • Passage in New England • Contention in Massachusetts • Decision to “pass with recommendations” • Journals of Ezra Stiles • Defeat in North Carolina, Rhode Island* • Rhode Island “Country Party March” • Slim passage in Pennsylvania, Maryland • Frontier and farmers vs cities and merchants • New York and Virginia: Key States* • Important in terms of the magic number • Most populous two states • Influential and most slave-wealthy: VA • Wealthy and most bank-wealthy: NY • Decision to embark on a propaganda campaign

  6. The Federalist Writers • John Jay • Diplomat for the Confederation • Influential and wealthy New York lawyer • James Madison • Close friend of Jefferson, Washington • Member of Virginia aristocracy • A brief aside on “aristocracy” • Intellectual leader of Philad. Conv. • Alexander Hamilton • Merchant and “modern man” • Lawyer’s education, broad world experience • Washington’s personal friend and aide vs • Richard Henry Lee • Samuel Bryant • Elbridge Gerry

  7. The Letters of the Antifederalists

  8. The Federalist #10 – The Extended Republic • Factions

  9. The Federalist #51 – Checks and Balances • Factions

  10. The Federalist #84 – No Bill of Rights Needed • Factions

  11. The Federalist #24 – The Need For Taxes • Factions

  12. The Federalist #41 – The Powers of Government • Factions

  13. The Federalist #67 – The Powerful President • Factions

  14. The Constitution Adopted, Washington in Office

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