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Ratifying the Constitution Part I: The Federalist Appeal, 1787- May 1788

Ratifying the Constitution Part I: The Federalist Appeal, 1787- May 1788. Dr. Greg O’Brien Department of History University of Southern Mississippi. “A republic – if you can keep it!” -   Franklin’s warning to the throng outside the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia at the end of

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Ratifying the Constitution Part I: The Federalist Appeal, 1787- May 1788

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  1. Ratifying the Constitution Part I: The Federalist Appeal, 1787- May 1788 Dr. Greg O’Brien Department of History University of Southern Mississippi

  2. “A republic – if you can keep it!” -   Franklin’s warning to the throng outside the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia at the end of the Constitutional Convention, September 1787.  

  3. How was the Constitution to be adopted? • Members of the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention signed a document on September 17, 1787 that had no force of law until adopted • Adoption not a given • Steps (Article 7): • Special convention in each state (not state legislatures) • 9 of 13 must approve • Goal: peaceful transition to a new government • Legal? - Articles required unanimous state approval for revision

  4. What was Different about the Constitution? • A Federal System • Stronger national government with centralized powers • To regulate commerce • To tax • To decide judicial disputes • An executive branch • Diluting the power of the legislature

  5. Why support the new Constitution? • Some states economically stagnant (CT, NJ, DE) or dealing with foreign threats (GA) • Less dependence upon state generosity, lack of decision making • Many former congressmen and military officers supported new Constitution for its greater efficiency • Protections of property & commerce • Men of wealth • Ghosts of Shay’s Rebellion A Continental dollar, 1775, “not worth a Continental”

  6. Initial Federalist Success • Federalists well organized • make appeals in the newspapers • 5 states ratify by January 9, 1788 with little opposition • Partial exception: Pennsylvania – significant opposition • Samuel Bryan vs. James Wilson • Lack of Bill of Rights for individuals • Demand for a 2nd Constitutional Convention • Violence • Foreshadowing future disputes

  7. The Federalist Papers • 85 essays, October 1787 – May 1788, signed by Publius • Authored by Alexander Hamilton (52), James Madison (28), and John Jay (5) • Response to anti-Constitution letters in NY newspapers by Cato • Defended Constitution nearly clause by clause

  8. Federalist #10 • Written by Madison, pub. Nov. 23, 1787 • Countering a key complaint of the anti-federalists that only small republics had ever succeeded in world history • Arguing against conventional wisdom, insisted that a large territory could be governed as a republic with representative government • Majority factions would be avoided, oppression of any one faction would be counter-balanced Federalist #10, pub. in the New York Packet

  9. Prominent Federalists John Jay, (New York) James Madison (Virginia) Alexander Hamilton, (New York) James Wilson, (Penn.)

  10. Links to the Federalist Papers • FoundingFathers.info: http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/ • Avalon Project at Yale University: http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/federal/fed.htm • Library of Congress: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/histdox/fedpapers.html

  11. Massachusetts Stiff opposition Passes 187-168 on Feb. 6 Role of John Hancock amendments to be considered after new government in place New Hampshire Convention adjourned in February due to imminent defeat Rhode Island Turns down the Constitution 10-1, March 24 Maryland Madison’s worries passes 63-11, April 28 South Carolina Ratified 149-73, May 23 8 states have ratified, but Anti-Federalists getting more organized in remaining states The Battle Continues, February-May, 1788 Replica of ship built in celebration of Maryland’s adoption of the Constitution

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