02)Sept18Workshop

Documents from the constitutional debate, originally identified as day one readings for the Summer Institute. (You should have these in your reading notebook.)
 * **September 18** || **Liberty vs. Power: Political Identities in the New Republic** || Robert J. Allison, PhD, Department of History, Suffolk University ||
 * Readings:**

**Question:** Would you have supported ratification of the U.S. Constitution, as it was proposed in September 1787, or would you have opposed it? Why? Which of the argum ents in the documents you read do you find most convincing?

On September 18th, Dr. Allison of Suffolk University facilitated a fascinating discussion about the two opposing viewpoints regarding the ratification of the United States Constitution. The two opposing viewpoints were represented by the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists: The separation of powers into three independent branches protected the rights of the people. Each branch represents a different aspect of the peo ple, and because all three branches are equal, no one group can assume control over another.
 * The Federalists' position (Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay):**

A listing of rights can be a dangerous thing. If the national government were to protect specific listed rights, what would stop it from violating rights other than the listed ones? Since we can't list all the rights, the Federalists argued that it's better to list none at all.

It gave too much power to the national government at the expense of the state governments. There was no bill of rights. The national government could maintain an army in peacetime. Congress, because of the `necessary and proper clause,' wielded too much power. The executive branch held too much power.
 * The Anti-Federalists Position (George Mason, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Elbridge Gerry):**

Nine states' approval were needed to put the Constitution into effect.

Five states ratified the Constitution with little or no delay: Delaware Pennsylvania Georgia New Jersey Connecticut

There was much more discussion and debate in Massachusetts. The debates took place at Long Lane Meeting House in Boston (on what is now Federal Street). Representatives on both sides made passionate arguments supporting their positions but in the end, the Federalists had succeeded (187-168). One of the compromises resulted in the Bill of Rights. Soon after Massachusetts voted to ratify, Maryland, South Carolina, and New Hampshire voted to adopt the Constitution.

Although the required nine states approved the new Constitution, New York and Virginia's approval was crucial to assure it's acceptance. Eventually, Virginia and New York voted to ratify as well, with North Carolina and Rhode Island following suit.

Massachusetts Historical Society [|www.masshist.org] Massachusetts Archives http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/ Commonwealth Massachusetts http://www.sec.state.ma.us/sec/mus/teachers/teaidx.htm Boston Public Library http://www.bpl.org American Antiquarian Society [|www.americanantiquarian.org/] Gore Place [|www.goreplace.org/federalperiod.htm]
 * Additional Resources:**