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[[George Washington]] reluctantly agreed to attend the convention, and was elected to preside.  In another display of his remarkable self-restraint, Washington did not speak on the issues, because he wanted to remain impartial as the Chairman.

[[George Washington]] reluctantly agreed to attend the convention, and was elected to preside.  In another display of his remarkable self-restraint, Washington did not speak on the issues, because he wanted to remain impartial as the Chairman.

[[Benjamin Franklin]] was the oldest attendee, at 82.  He had to be carried to the meetings in a chair and wrote out his remarks so that others could speak for him.  Nevertheless, his presence at the Convention was inspiring.

[[Benjamin Franklin]] was the oldest attendee, at 82.  He had to be carried to the meetings in a chair and wrote out his remarks so that others could speak for him.  Nevertheless, his presence at the Convention was inspiring, and he spoke out on certain issues.  For example, he favored inclusion of the Impeachment Clause.

[[James Madison]] took copious notes during the deliberations and was a tireless worker.  All of his proposals were rejected, but he received the misnomer of "Father of the Constitution" because most of the information of the proceedings comes from his notes.

[[James Madison]] took copious notes during the deliberations and was a tireless worker.  All of his proposals were rejected, but he received the misnomer of "Father of the Constitution" because most of the information of the proceedings comes from his notes.

:Article VII establishes the procedure for ratifying the Constitution.

:Article VII establishes the procedure for ratifying the Constitution.

The Constitution itself (before passage of the Bill of Rights adding the first ten amendments) contains several important protections of individual rights, including a right to a jury trial and a prohibition on any bill of attainder, which was a practice in England whereby the legislature would punish an individual by expressly and specifically naming him in legislation.  Under the Constitution, only courts can punish individual citizens.

The Constitution itself (before passage of the Bill of Rights adding the first ten amendments) contains several important protections of individual rights, including a right to a jury trial and a prohibition on any bill of attainder, which was a practice in England whereby the legislature would punish an individual by expressly and specifically naming him in legislation.  Under the Constitution, only courts can punish individual citizens.  Also, the Constitution banned nobility as exists in England, and spoke in terms of "citizens" in contrast to English, where the people were merely "subjects" of the King or Queen until 1948.

Every state except Rhode Island held a ratifying convention to consider adopting it.  Many small states ratified the Constitution quickly (the first state to ratify it was Delaware), because they liked the idea of having equal representation in the Senate.  But bigger states, such as [[Virginia]] and [[New York]], were more reluctant to give up their power to a national government.

Every state except Rhode Island held a ratifying convention to consider adopting it.  Many small states ratified the Constitution quickly (the first state to ratify it was Delaware), because they liked the idea of having equal representation in the Senate.  But bigger states, such as [[Virginia]] and [[New York]], were more reluctant to give up their power to a national government.

The debate over ratification in the large states pitted the Federalists (for example, Alexander Hamilton) against the Anti-Federalists (for example, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, George Mason, and John Hancock).  Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution.  The Anti-Federalists opposed it, primarily because it lacked the Bill of Rights.

The debate over ratification in the large states pitted the Federalists (for example, Alexander Hamilton) against the Anti-Federalists (for example, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, George Mason, and John Hancock).  Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution.  The Anti-Federalists opposed it, primarily because it lacked the Bill of Rights.

Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the Constitution, but did so only after the Anti-Federalists Samuel Adams and John Hancock negotiated a compromise (the "Massachusetts Compromise") guaranteeing that the new Congress would immediately consider amendments to establish a Bill of Rights.  Subsequently the remaining states also ratified it, many with the understanding that the Bill of Rights would be added to it.

Massachusetts became the sixth state to ratify the Constitution, but only by a narrow majority after the Anti-Federalists Samuel Adams and John Hancock negotiated a compromise (the "Massachusetts Compromise") guaranteeing that the new Congress would immediately consider amendments to establish a Bill of Rights.  Subsequently the remaining states also ratified it, many with the understanding that the Bill of Rights would be added to it.

To persuade New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay anonymously wrote the ''Federalist'' papers, which were a series of editorials that ran in a prominent New York newspaper.  The most famous of these is Madison's Federalist No. 10: "Among the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction."  Madison's insight was that a new United States of America, with its large size and separation of powers, could actually guard against tyranny and evil factions better than individual colonies could.  The Federalist papers set forth the arguments -- like a debater's handbook -- to be used by supporters of the Constitution to obtain ratification in Virginia and New York, and the many other states that had not yet ratified.  Later, the Federalist papers became a reference source for judges to use in interpreting what the Constitution means.

To persuade New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay anonymously wrote the ''Federalist'' papers, which were a series of editorials that ran in a prominent New York newspaper.  The most famous of these is Madison's Federalist No. 10: "Among the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction."  Madison's insight was that a new United States of America, with its large size and separation of powers, could actually guard against tyranny and evil factions better than individual colonies could.  The Federalist papers set forth the arguments -- like a debater's handbook -- to be used by supporters of the Constitution to obtain ratification in Virginia and New York, and the many other states that had not yet ratified.  Later, the Federalist papers became a reference source for judges to use in interpreting what the Constitution means.

The final two states, North Carolina and Rhode Island, still opposed the Constitution and did not ratify it until George Washington began serving as president.  North Carolina ratified it in 1789.  Rhode Island, also known for its "separation of church and state," wanted to hold onto its power to tax imports which the Constitution would take away from it.  Rhode Island did not ratify the Constitution until the other 12 states threatened to boycott it.  Rhode Island ratified it in 1790.

The final two states, North Carolina and Rhode Island, still opposed the Constitution and did not ratify it until George Washington began serving as president.  North Carolina ratified it in 1789.  Rhode Island, also known for its "separation of church and state," wanted to hold onto its power to tax imports which the Constitution would take away from it.  Rhode Island did not ratify the Constitution until the other 12 states threatened to boycott it.  Rhode Island ratified it in 1790.

The first ten amendments -- the Bill of Rights -- were passed by the first Congress in 1789 and ratified by all the states by 1791.  New Jersey was the first to ratify the Bill of Rights.  Twelve amendments were sent to the states, but the Constitution requires that three-quarters of the states approve a proposed amendment in order for it to be ratified, and two of the twelve amendments did not attain three-quarters approval.  Virginia's legislature was the last to ratify the Bill of Rights, on December 15, 1791, which was ironic because its Virginia Declaration of Rights was the basis for James Madison in drafting the Bill of Rights.

The first ten amendments -- the Bill of Rights -- were passed by the first Congress in 1789 and ratified by all the states by 1791.  New Jersey was the first to ratify the Bill of Rights.  Twelve amendments were sent to the states, but the Constitution requires that three-quarters of the states approve a proposed amendment in order for it to be ratified, and two of the twelve amendments did not attain three-quarters approval.  Virginia's legislature was the last to ratify the Bill of Rights, on December 15, 1791, which was ironic because its Virginia Declaration of Rights was the basis for James Madison in drafting the Bill of Rights.