4.3 -Discussion- Federalist-Anti-Federalists and the tools of Constitutional Ratification

Federalist-Anti-Federalists and the tools of Ratification

Amendments-Ratification- Federalists and Anti-Federalists -Bill of Rights

The Constitution is a bundle of compromises among competing economic interests, geographic regions of the country, and ideological positions on slavery to name just a few among many.

The final ratification of the Constitution itself came about using the the tools created in the Constitution itself, specifically the amending process.  The Framers set up a separate function to Ratify the Constitution (Article VII ) via Ratification Conventions in the states.  The Amending Process (Article V) 

The Ratification of the Constitution stalled as two ideological groups disagreed over the outcome of the document.  These idea groups (there were not political parties at the founding of the country) were the Federalists and the Anti- Federalists.  The Federalists, Northern Industrialists wanted a strong central government with guarantees to support economic growth.  The Anti-Federalist, Western and Southern Farmers wanted more security for the states and the individual rights of the people. These two groups disagreed upon how the final Constitution would meet the needs of each group.

The Federalist Papers	The Anti-Federalist Papers

The Bill of Rights was the compromise with settle the dispute and established the Ratification of the Constitution.  How do the Amendments in the Bill of Rights reflect 

The power to Amend the Constitution enables the public to safeguard (or remove) rights as as need hence "future proofing" the nation against tyranny.  The Amending process will play additional important roles in mending the differences of the country in the post Civil War era (13th, 14th, and 15th)  as well as adopting structural law  remedies that were not foreseen by the Framers..

Discussion Question:

1. Briefly summarize the position taken by the Federalists OR the Anti-Federalists prior to the ratification of the Constitution.
2. How does the Adoption of the Bill of Rights via the Amending Process reflect the "spirit of compromise"  of the Framers as well as their "genius of creativity" to create a document that could "live and breath" into the future.

The following videos may also be helpful to construct your post or response:

• 3.2 Assigned Videos- Introduction to the Constitution
• 3.3 Assigned Videos- Constitutional Structure -Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances
• 3.4 Assigned Videos- Constitution Power and Intent
• 3.5 Assigned Videos-Amendments, Bill of Rights, and Electoral College

Each student is required to post a 200 word response to the question.

The student then must post at least a 100 word response to at lease two other student posts

Please review How to participate and answer a Discussion Question for specifics on how to post to this discussion to get full credit.