5-2+Notes

__**5-2 Preview Homework 9/26/08**__ The Struggle for Ratification was an important part of American History. During this time the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists faught over the signing of the Constitution. Both groups had good arguements about the things they liked and disliked about the Constitution. Chapter 5 lesson 2 is all about how the Federalists got the Constitution signed and how the Anit-Federalists got what they wanted in the Constitution by signing it.

The Federalists supported the Constitution because they liked the thought a strong national government. Some Federalists included James Madison, John Jay, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington. The Federalists believed individual states would not be able to protect themselves against foreign nations like England, France, and Spain. The Federalists also thought that a strong national government would provide protection, maintain order, regulate trade, ensure the nations debs were paid, guarantee the rights of citizens, and make sure American money kept it's value.

The Anit-Federalists feared the ideals of a strong central government that the Constitution brought. They believed that a strong central government would be so far away from local communities that it wouldn't really be a government for and by the people. They wanted the representatitves to meet in a location close to the pole whose interests they sought to protect. The Anti-Federalists also wanted a Bill of Rights included in the Constitution to make sure the government respected the citizen's rights. Another thing the Anti-Federalists disliked was the "necessary and proper" clause because the term "necessary and proper" was open to interpretation and a strong national government could interpret the clause as allowing laws that swallowed up state governments.

The Federalist papers were pro-Constitution essays and were written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. The essays were about how the Articles of Confederation were insufficient and how the Constitution would protect the liberty of every citizen and no group would be able to ignore the rights of everyone else. The papers also emphasized the problems America had as a weak, immature nation on a large government. If the states did not unite under a strong national government the forces of Spain, England, and France might overpower them.

Between the Federalists' campaign and the support of Washington and Franklin persuaded many Americans to support the new Constitution. Many Anti-Federalists were won over when a bill of rights was added. Finally in June 1788 a new government was born when the ninth state, New Hampshire, ratified the Constitution. In May 1790 all 13 states had ratified the new Constitution and the United States of America was born. The dispute between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists was a long and hard one that included many fueds over differnemt ideals on what the new government should be like. It was a hard and important part of American History that eventually shaped the American government we have today. **__  Homework 9/29/08 5.2 Vocab  __** 1. Ratified- approved 2. Federalists- the supporters of the Constitution and a strong federal, or national, government. 3. Anti-Federalists- The opponents of the constitutuion and the Federalists. __**Chapter 5 Section 2 Assessment pg. 123**__ 1. Find the statement "A strong national government..." on page 121. In your own words explain the meaning of this sentance. The statement "A strong national government might not respect citizen's rights" on page 121 means that a government that was united and had great power would probably not be a government for and by the people. 2. (A.) What resons did the Federalists give for thier position on ratification? Some reasons the Federalists gave for their position on ratification were they believed a strong central government would provide protection, maintain order, regulate trade, guarantee the rights of citizens, and ensure American money retained a stable value. (B.) How consistent were the Federalists' views with the original purpose of the convention? How consistent were the Federalists' views with the original purpose of the convention? The Federalists views about the original purpose of the convention were stable because they wanted a stronger nation government even though they thought it would come through a revision of the Articles of Confederation not the Constitution. 3. (A.) Whi did the Anti-Federalists oppose ratification of the Constitution? The Anti-Federalists opposed the ratification of the Constitution becuase they didn't like the ideals a strong national government would bring. They didn't like that the central government would meet so far away from local communities. They also didn't like the "Necessary and Proper" law because they believed that the term "Necessary and Proper" could be interpreted differently by the government to suit it's needs and they felt the need for a Bill of Rights. (B.) What position on the Bill of Rights do you think was correct, tthe Federalists or the Anti-Federalists? Why? I think the Anti-Federalists were right about the need for a Bill of Rights because a strong national government could abuse citiznes' rights even if the Constitution limited the government's powers if they decided it would suit the government more. 4. (A.) What was the Federalist? The Federalist was documents written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay that were pro-Constitution to persued the states to accept the Constitution. (B.) How effective was Madison in responding to the concerns about liverty expressed by Patrick Henry and others? Madison was very effective becuase he promised them a Bill of Rights. 5 (A.) What decision by the Federalists helped the cause of ratification? The Bill of Rights being added by the Federalists helped to get the Constitution ratified. (B.) What do you think would have happened if some states had not approved ratification? The new nation would not have lasted if all the states had not united and signed the Constitution becuase they would be at constant war with each other and power houses such as England, France and Spain could overtake them.