Transcript Slide 1

Why was ratification required?
• Ratification  a document has to be voted
• The Constitution would be 
– Presented to ratifying
– Delegates would be
• Ratification Plan 
– Example of Social Contract theory because people
were asked for the consent to be governed (people are
sole source of political power)
Where and how did Americans debate
the Proposed Constitution?
• As soon as the Constitution was
• Anti-Federalists 
– Stated their objections to the Constitution
• Key Anti-Federalists:
– George Mason,
What were the Key elements of the AntiFederalists’ opposition?
• Both Federalists and Anti-Federalists
• Greatest governing power in a republic should
be
What were the Key elements of the AntiFederalists’ opposition?
• Anti-Federalists believed 
– Representative governments only work in small
communities
– A Large, diverse state or nation
– With a single national government uniform
What were the Key elements of the AntiFederalists’ opposition?
• Anti-Federalist beliefs 
– In a large state, people would not be able
– Once government operates at a distance from the citizens
– People living in small agricultural communities best
posses civic virtue because
– civic virtue works best in small homogenous communities
How did the Anti-Federalists’ philosophy
shape their objections to the Constitution?
• Specific Arguments against the Constitution 
– President had unlimited
– Congress has the power to make any laws that
How did the Anti-Federalists’ philosophy
shape their objections to the Constitution?
• Specific Arguments against the Constitution 
– National courts have so much power they
• Constitution did not create
Should there be a Bill of Rights?
• Most used arguments in favor of Bill of Rights:
– National government did not
– National government’s powers are too general and
vague (are they unlimited?)
– Nothing in the Constitution
– State Constitutions
– It was necessary to remind people of