The History of the Ratification of the Constitution
DBQ: Ratifying the Constitution
Directions- Read all the documents answer all the questions and the essay on loose-leaf.
Historical Context: Today, over 200 years after it was written ad ratified (approved), most Americans think of the US Constitution as something almost sacred. We assume that this great document has always been honored and looked up to. This is NOT true. When it was written in 1787 and submitted to the states for ratification, it set off months of fierce and often bitter debate. There were, of course, many who welcomed it as a stronger and more effective national government which could successfully tie the 13 states together into one nation. But others were afraid of this proposed powerful new national government. Why should they now set up a new distant central government which could threaten their liberties just as King George and Parliament had? The debate went on in towns and villages across the country for months. Some of the smaller states ratified the new Constitution quickly, but in most states the debate continued. In February of 1788, the Massachusetts convention voted 187 to 168 to ratify or approve the Constitution. In June, Virginia ratified 89 to 79. New York followed almost immediately. Now, with the approval of 11 states, the new government was established. In April of 1789 George Washington was sworn in as President, even though two states still had not approved the Constitution. It took North Carolina until November 1789 and Rhode Island until May 1790 to join the new government.
Question: To what extent was the new constitution necessary?
Documents 1
This excerpt is from a newspaper, The Massachusetts Sentinel, October 20, 1787. (From Voices of America: Readings in American History, Thomas R. Frazier, ed. Boston: Houghton Miflin, 1985, p. 61)
Let us look and [see] the [problems that exist] in every part of our country . . . the complaints of our farmers . . . the complaints of every class of [people who loan money] . .
Directions- Read all the documents answer all the questions and the essay on loose-leaf.
Historical Context: Today, over 200 years after it was written ad ratified (approved), most Americans think of the US Constitution as something almost sacred. We assume that this great document has always been honored and looked up to. This is NOT true. When it was written in 1787 and submitted to the states for ratification, it set off months of fierce and often bitter debate. There were, of course, many who welcomed it as a stronger and more effective national government which could successfully tie the 13 states together into one nation. But others were afraid of this proposed powerful new national government. Why should they now set up a new distant central government which could threaten their liberties just as King George and Parliament had? The debate went on in towns and villages across the country for months. Some of the smaller states ratified the new Constitution quickly, but in most states the debate continued. In February of 1788, the Massachusetts convention voted 187 to 168 to ratify or approve the Constitution. In June, Virginia ratified 89 to 79. New York followed almost immediately. Now, with the approval of 11 states, the new government was established. In April of 1789 George Washington was sworn in as President, even though two states still had not approved the Constitution. It took North Carolina until November 1789 and Rhode Island until May 1790 to join the new government.
Question: To what extent was the new constitution necessary?
Documents 1
This excerpt is from a newspaper, The Massachusetts Sentinel, October 20, 1787. (From Voices of America: Readings in American History, Thomas R. Frazier, ed. Boston: Houghton Miflin, 1985, p. 61)
Let us look and [see] the [problems that exist] in every part of our country . . . the complaints of our farmers . . . the complaints of every class of [people who loan money] . .