The Constitution: Federalists v. Anti-

Federalists

Vocabulary

Words1. controversy2. right3. anonymously4. Federalist5. Anti-federalist

Definitions• something you have

that no one can take from you

• a person who did not support the Constitution

• a person who supported the Constitution

• to do something without giving your name

• argument

Directions: Number your paper from 1 to 5 and write the words and their correct definitions.

III. Ratifying the ConstitutionA. Reaction to the New Constitution

1. Newspapers published the new Constitution for the American people to read

2. Many were shocked at the changes because the delegates said they were meeting only to revise the Articles of Confederation

3. People began to take sides:a. Federalists: people who wanted to ratify

the new Constitutionb. Antifederalists: people who did not want to

ratify the new Constitution

III. Ratifying the ConstitutionB. Controversy over the

Constitution1. Opponents argued that the

Constitution did not protect individual rights, and that a bill of rights was needed to protect freedom of speech, religion, and the press

2. Supporters argued that the Constitution limited the power of the national government and that a bill of rights was not necessary

III. Ratifying the Constitution

3. The Federalist Papers

a. A series of 85 essays written to defend the Constitution

b. Published in New York newspapers between 1787 and 1788

c. Written anonymously by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay

d. Analyzed and explained the Constitution

III. Ratifying the ConstitutionC. Federalists

1. Favored ratification of the Constitution

2. Wanted a strong national government

3. George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton

4. Bill of rights was not necessary

5. Mostly urban; merchants, skilled workers, and laborers

6. New England

D. Antifederalists1. Opposed ratification of

the Constitution2. Wanted a weak

national government that would not threaten states’ rights

3. Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, and Thomas Jefferson

4. Wanted a Bill of Rights 5. Mostly rural; farmers,

planters6. Southern states

III. Ratifying the ConstitutionE. Ratification

1. Eventually, the Federalists agreed to add a bill of rights to the Constitution if the states would ratify the Constitution

2. In December, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution

3. In June, 1788, New Hampshire became the 9th to approve the Constitution

III. Ratifying the Constitution

F. Adoption of the Bill of Rights

1. In September, 1789, Congress submitted 12 amendments to the states for ratification

2. By December, 1791, the states had ratified 10 of the Amendments, which came to be known as the Bill of Rights

III. Ratifying the Constitution

G. The Bill of Rights1. Freedom of speech,

religion, petition, the press, and assembly

2. The right to bear arms3. No soldiers quartered

in peoples’ homes4. Protection against

unreasonable searches and seizures

5. Protection against self-incrimination

6. Right to a speedy trial

7. Right to trial by jury trial8. Protection from cruel and

unusual punishment9. The people have more

rights than those in the Constitution

10. The states have more rights than those in the Constitution