Notes on Ratification

RATIFICATION DEBATES:
Immediately following the Constitutional Convention the delegates to Philadelphia brought the newly crafted Constitution to their home states for ratification (or approval). Most states held special ratification conventions, with elected officials representing counties or regions throughout the state. The New York ratifying convention was held in the city of Poughkeepsie.

While many of the smaller states quickly ratified the new Constitution, the debate in the two largest and most important states, New York and Virginia, raged on for months. The debate in New York was particularly divisive. The Constitutional supporters, the Federalists, took the debate into the public forum of the press, publishing a series of pro-ratification essays collectively known as the Federalist Papers. While the Federalist Papers were simply signed "Publius" they were the work of Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay and they still stand today as some of the greatest commentary on the meaning and intent of the Constitution's chief authors.

The Anti-Federalist opposition to ratification was strong and while all of the states eventually accepted the new government, states such as Virginia and Massachusetts did so only after attaching recommendations concerning the addition of a Bill of Rights. The first 10 amendments to the Constitution were added soon after ratification and became the U.S. Bill of Rights and stand as the Anti-Federalists greatest contribution to the Constitution they so opposed.
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Tonight's HW 10/12/07

Here's tonight's HW assignment:

1. READ: The handout you were given in class today. You'll be reading pages 70-74. Since these are yours, feel free to highlight, annotate, etc.


2. When you're done reading, complete the following:

a. "Terms to Know" on p. 70
b. "Reviewing and Using" p. 74. You are only responsible for completing numbers ONE, FIVE AND SIX (that's 1, 5, and 6).

Due Monday.

Keep up the good work!