Although the Bill of Rights enabled Federalists and Anti-Federalists to reach a compromise that led to the adoption of the Constitution, this harmony did not extend into the presidency of George Washington ; political divisions within the cabinet of the newly created government emerged in over national fiscal policy, splitting those who previously supported the Constitution into rival groups, some of whom allied with former Anti-Federalists.
In , during the administration of John Adams , the Federalists attempted to squelch dissent by adopting the Sedition Act , which restricted freedom of speech and the press, but opposition to this law helped Democratic-Republicans gain victory in the elections of Although the Federalist Party was strong in New England and the Northeast, it was left without a strong leader after the death of Alexander Hamilton and retirement of John Adams.
Its increasingly aristocratic tendencies and its opposition to the War of helped to fuel its demise in This article was originally published in Banner, James M. New York: Knopf, Harding, Samuel Bannister. Cambridge, Mass. On December 7, , Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution.
The vote was unanimous, Pennsylvania followed on December 12, and New Jersey ratified on December 18, also in a unanimous vote.
On August 2, , North Carolina refused to ratify the Constitution without amendments, but it relented and ratified it a year later. Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution on December 7, Pennsylvania followed on December 12 and New Jersey ratified on December 18, also in a unanimous vote. On August 2, , North Carolina refused to ratify the Constitution without amendments, but relented and ratified it a year later. North Carolina was not the only state that wanted amendments.
On September 26, , Congress sent a list of twelve amendments to the states for ratification. Ten of the amendments would become the Bill of Rights. Vermont became the last state to ratify the Constitution on January 10, The Bill of Rights was enacted on December 15, Here is a summary of the ten amendments ratified on that day:. Privacy Policy. Skip to main content. The Constitution and the Founding of America. Search for:. Ratification of the Constitution. Federalists and Antifederalists While the Constitutional Convention was held to revise the Articles of Confederation, an entirely new constitution was drafted.
Ron Chernow, Hamilton Penguin, Dan T. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. As the Vietnam War dragged on, with more than , U. Known for their support of a strong national government, the Federalists emphasized commercial and diplomatic harmony with The Alien and Sedition Acts were a series of four laws passed by the U.
Congress in amid widespread fear that war with France was imminent. The four laws—which remain controversial to this day—restricted the activities of foreign residents in the country and limited Written in and stemming from wartime urgency, its progress was slowed by fears of central authority and extensive land claims by states. It was not ratified until The rebels were mostly ex-Revolutionary War soldiers-turned farmers who opposed state Once nine of the thirteen states had ratified the document at special conventions with elected representatives , the Constitution would replace the Articles in those nine states.
The delegates figured correctly that the remaining states would be unable to survive on their own and would have to ratify the new document as well. Debates erupted throughout the states about whether the new Constitution was an improvement. On one side were the Federalists , who favored the Constitution and a strong central government.
The Federalists counted among their number many of the wealthier, propertied, and more educated Americans, including John Adams, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, among others.
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