What was the main reason to ratify the Constitution?
Asked by: Isabelle Swaniawski III | Last update: September 17, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (51 votes)
Constitution declared ratified July 2, 1788 The sovereign people participated in a great deliberative moment in which they ultimately decided to accept a new Constitution with a central government wielding greater powers to protect their rights, safety, and happiness.
What is the purpose of ratification?
Ratification: approval of agreement by the state
After approval has been granted under a state's own internal procedures, it will notify the other parties that they consent to be bound by the treaty. This is called ratification.
What would happen if we didn't ratify the Constitution?
In order for the Constitution to take effect, nine of the 13 states would have to ratify. But even if that minimum number were met without ratification by powerful states such as Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New York, the new government would not hold.
What was the main purpose of ratifying the Bill of Rights?
By codifying fundamental freedoms, it won over states skeptical of a federal government at the time of our founding and proved our Constitution to be a living document, capable of evolving to perfect our Union. The basic rights it guarantees—to religion, speech, press, privacy and more—have come to define our nation.
Why did the federalists still want ratification of the Constitution?
The Federalist Party saw the Articles of Confederation as weak and indicative of the inevitable instability a nation will face without a strong centralized government. Thus, the party advocated heavily in favor of the Implied Powers of the President within the Constitution alongside Federal Supremacy.
Challenges to Ratification of the Constitution, by Professor John Kaminski
Why was the Constitution ratified?
They firmly believed that this ratification process would demonstrate that the new constitution would be established by the will of the people rather than by a few political elites in state legislatures.
What were 3 reasons the Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution?
Federalists defended the Constitution's strengthened national government, with its greater congressional powers, more powerful executive, and independent judiciary. They argued that the new government supported the principles of separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism.
What helped to encourage ratification of the Constitution?
More than 200 years ago, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay published a series of essays promoting the ratification of the United States Constitution now known as Federalist Papers.
Why did James Madison support the Constitution?
Madison believed keenly in the value of a strong government in which power was well controlled because it was well balanced among the branches.
What states refused to ratify the Constitution without a Bill of Rights?
Two states, Rhode Island and North Carolina, refused to ratify without a bill of rights.
What were the 2 main problems with ratifying the Constitution?
Anti-Federalists argued that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government, while taking too much power away from state and local governments. Many felt that the federal government would be too far removed to represent the average citizen.
Who is often called the Father of the Constitution?
Definition. The term 'Father of the Constitution' refers to James Madison, who played a pivotal role in drafting and promoting the United States Constitution during the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
Who did not want to ratify the US Constitution?
Two states, North Carolina and Rhode Island, refused to ratify the new plan of government. Those who opposed the adoption of the Constitution were known as the Antifederalists. Many feared centralized power. Many doubted the ability of Americans to sustain a continental republic.
Why did nine States have to ratify the Constitution?
Because any combination of nine states (even the nine with the smallest populations) would comprise a majority of American citizens. In other words, even if the five most populous states refused to ratify, the remaining nine still would represent a majority of the people.
Can a treaty override the Constitution?
Under our Constitution, treaties become the supreme law of the land. They are, indeed, more supreme than ordinary laws for congressional laws are invalid if they do not conform to the Constitution, whereas treaty law can override the Constitution.
What causes ratification?
Typically, a document is ratified when it receives the approval of an individual or group that is authorized to make law. Within the United States, ratification is typically a matter entrusted to voters and their representatives. However, different kinds of laws or agreements have different methods of ratification.
Which right isn't guaranteed in the First Amendment?
Incitement to Imminent Lawless Action
The First Amendment does not protect speech that incites people to break the law, including to commit acts of violence.
Why did the founding fathers create the First Amendment?
History of the First Amendment
Freedom of religion was an especially important idea for many American colonists. Several religious groups, including Quakers, Episcopalians, and Presbyterians, emigrated to the colonies from England to escape persecution over their religious beliefs.
Why wasn't the Bill of Rights originally in the U.S. Constitution?
James Madison and other supporters of the Constitution argued that a bill of rights wasn't necessary because - “the government can only exert the powers specified by the Constitution.” But they agreed to consider adding amendments when ratification was in danger in the key state of Massachusetts.
Which state had the clearest separation of church and state?
Thus, in addressing the question of which state had the clearest separation of church and state, the answer would be Virginia.
What convinced people to ratify the Constitution?
The promise that a bill of rights would be drafted for the Constitution persuaded delegates in many states to support ratification.
Does the Constitution say no one is above the law?
Another important idea is the “rule of law.” The rule of law means that everyone must obey the law and no one is above the law. This means that the government and its leaders must also obey the law. Our Constitution was written in 1787.
Why should the Constitution be ratified?
The purpose of the Constitution is to, “form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity” (Constitution Preamble).
What is government itself but the greatest?
But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.
Did the Democratic Republicans support the Constitution?
Base of support
Madison and Jefferson formed the Democratic-Republican Party from a combination of former Anti-Federalists and supporters of the Constitution who were dissatisfied with the Washington administration's policies.