The Ratification DebateRatifying the ConstitutionOnce the Constitution of the United States was written in 1787 at the Philadelphia convention, the next step was ratification. This is the formal process, outlined in Article VII, which required that nine of the thirteen states had to agree to adopt the Constitution before it could go into effect. Show
As in any debate there were two sides, the Federalists who supported ratification and the Anti-Federalists who did not. We now know that the Federalists prevailed, and the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1788, and went into effect in 1789. Read about their arguments below.
The CourtsHow did the Anti-Federalists feel about the federal courts?Similar to how they felt about the rest of the proposed federal government, the Anti-Federalists believed the Constitution granted too much power to the federal courts, at the expense of the state and local courts. They argued that the federal courts would be too far away to provide justice to the average citizen. How did the Federalists feel about the federal courts?The Federalists argued that the federal courts had limited jurisdiction, leaving many areas of the law to the state and local courts. The Federalists felt that the new federal courts were necessary to provide checks and balances on the power of the other two branches of government. They believed the federal courts would protect citizens from government abuse, and guarantee their liberty. Courts todayFederalism is a form of government in which power is divided between the national government and the state governments. In the United States, there is a federal court system. In addition, each state has its own courts. To learn more about this dual court system, visit the Student Center page State Courts vs. Federal Courts. The Ratification DebateDirections: Click START to begin the Student Challenge. Identify each of the following statements as describing the FEDERALIST or the ANTI-FEDERALIST point of view. Use the ARROW to move through the questions. Check your RESULTS at the end. Congratulations - you have completed The Ratification Debate. You scored %%SCORE%% out of
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What arguments did the Federalists make to support ratification of the Constitution?Separation of Powers: Federalists argued that, by separating the basic powers of government into three equal branches and not giving too much power to any one person or group, the Constitution provided balance and prevented the potential for tyranny.
What was a Federalist argument in support of the ratification of the Constitution quizlet?The federalists argued that the constitution allowed the national government to exercise only enumerated powers. Nothing gave the national government authority over individuals. Adding a Bill of rights would imply that the national government had powers the constitution did not give it.
What was the Federalists main argument for ratification quizlet?For Federalists, the Constitution was necessary in order to protect the liberty and independence that was gained from the American Revolution. They believed that the three branches of the national government separated the powers and protected the rights of the people.
What ratification did Federalists support?One of the great debates in American history was over the ratification of the Constitution in 1787-1788. Those who supported the Constitution and a stronger national republic were known as Federalists.
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