Dbq Ratifying The Constitution

The ratification of the Constitution was an immensely long process. After Shay’s Rebellion, delegates from twelve states met in Philadelphia, in order to strengthen the frail Articles of Confederation and create a new Constitution. Delegates met in Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania State House, for the Constitutional Convention, in which they discussed and debated the new Constitution. Many U.S. states and citizens argued over topics such as the congress’ power, slavery, and taxes, which highlighted the fact that the ratification debate proved that the country was more divided than united.

The Articles of Confederation was a very weak Constitution for the United States. FOr instance, after being independent from the British rule, American’s feared
This is know as the Philadelphia Convention, in which Federalist and Antifederalist debated the laws that were to be written in the constitution. The arguments at this convention, proved just how divided the states were. For instance, Mr. Sherman from Connecticut, argued that the House of Representatives should not be elected by the people, but instead they should be elevated by the state's legislature, since he believed many citizens were uneducated. But, Mr. Mason from Virginia argued that instead of the legislature, the democratic principle was to allow an election of branch by the people, agreeing with Mr. Wilson, from Pennsylvania's statement that, “No government could long subsist without the confidence of the people.” (The Confederation and the Constitution, 166). Many states alongside Connecticut agreed that citizens shouldn’t have the right to appoint people into the House of Representatives, but American citizens who are registered voters have the right to vote for their
Various men such as George Mason, refused to sign the constitution due to the disapproval of “... the compromise by which the South conceded a simple majority vote in Congress on navigation laws in return for twenty more years of African slave trade..” (The Confederation and the Constitution, 172). In addition, after receiving a copy of the Constitution, Thomas Jefferson was troubled by features, such as the absence of a Bill of Rights. At the Ratification Debate in Massachusetts, small farmers and states rights people were also against the Constitution, due to taxes. These taxes made the people feel powerless and as if they had no rights, since the government was taking money from them aste British previously did. Furthermore, a town keeper was against the fact that the congress has the power i lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and much more, since he believes he might not be able to pay these taxes and does not see a point in doing so, since the army is in a time of peace. These objections to the Constitution shows that before the final signing, people were still very discontent with the new form of government, many of them felt attacked instead of