CHAPTER 7 SECTION 3 DEBATING THE CONSTITUTION NOT

CHAPTER 7 SECTION 3 – DEBATING THE CONSTITUTION

NOT DONE YET! • Nine of the original thirteen states have to ratify (agree) with the Constitution in order for it to be the new law of the U. S.

FEDERALISTS VERSUS ANTIFEDERALISTS Federalists • For a strong national government • James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay – Federalist Papers • More power needed by central government to make it strong! Antifederalists • George Mason, Patrick Henry felt the Constitution gave too much power to central government • Made state power weaker • Contained no Bill of Rights • Made the President very kinglike

THE RATIFICATION DEBATE • Delaware first! – December 7, 1787 • Then Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut! • Massachusetts next but with reluctance • Maryland South Carolina made it state 7 & 8 • All eyes now on VIRGINIA! (Hello Mr. Washington, Randolph, Madison this was your idea!!!) • New Hampshire becomes # 9 while Virginia is busy arguing! • VA, NY, NC, and RI finally agree too (All 13) http: //www. socialstudiesforkids. com/graphics/13 mapnew. htm

“TIS DONE” • July 4, 1788 celebration of the new Constitution in Philadelphia • Washington elected first President, and John Adams first Vice. President

WHAT? NO BILL OF RIGHTS! • First act of new Congress was to discuss a Bill of Rights in 1789 • By December 1791, ¾ of the states had ratified all 10 of the new amendments that made up the Bill of Rights • Many feel the 1 st Amendment is the most important to them, can you name the five freedoms this contains? http: //axiomamuse. files. wordpress. com/2010/12/bill-of-rights. jpg

WHY IS GEORGE MASON CALLED “THE FATHER OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS? ” • George Mason strongly advocated the passage of the Bill of Rights, which was modeled largely on his Virginia Bill of Rights. http: //upload. wikimedia. org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/George_Mason. jpg/200 px-George_Mason. jpg