Changes

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 naming him in legislation.  Under the Constitution, only courts can punish ordinary 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 naming him in legislation.  Under the Constitution, only courts can punish ordinary citizens.

Many small states ratified the Constitution quickly, 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.

A huge debate followed in some of the states, particularly Virginia and New York.  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.  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 protect freedom against the tyranny of a small group better than individual colonies could.

Massachusetts ratified the Constitution only after the Antifederalists Samuel Adams and John Hancock negotiated a compromise (the "Massachusetts Compromise") guaranteeing that the new Congress would consider amendments to establish a Bill of Rights.  After that nearly all the ratifications by other states also demanded amendments as part of their ratifications.

The debate over ratification pitted the Federalists (for example, Alexander Hamilton) against the Anti-Federalists (for example, Patrick Henry).  Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution.  The Anti-Federalists opposed it, primarily because it lacked a bill of rights.

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.  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 protect freedom against the tyranny of a small group better than individual colonies could.  The Federalist papers set forth the arguments 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 courts in interpreting what the Constitution means.

Once the ninth state ([[New Hampshire]]) ratified the new Constitution on June 21, 1788, the Constitution became law of the land.  Shortly afterward, New York and Virginia followed.

The debate over ratification pitted the Federalists (for example, Alexander Hamilton) against the Anti-Federalists (for example, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams and John Hancock).  Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution.  The Anti-Federalists opposed it, primarily because it lacked a bill of rights.

North Carolina and Rhode Island, however were more difficult, and did not ratify the Constitution until 1789 and 1790, respectively.

The Federalist served mainly as a debater's handbook for Federalist delegates in the Virginia and New York conventions, becoming a classic work of American political thought and the foremost commentary on the Constitution only after the ratification controversy.

George Washington was elected the first President in late 1788, and served from 1789 to 1797. He was the only revolutionary leader in history to voluntarily give up power, renouncing earthly power for the greater good as Jesus had done.  Washington relied much on his top adviser, Alexander Hamilton, in making decisions and it was Hamilton who wrote the brilliant [[Farewell Address]] of Washington in 1797, which has become one of the most important documents in the nation's history.

The ninth state ([[New Hampshire]]) ratified the new Constitution on June 21, 1788, the Constitution became law of the land.  Shortly afterward, New York and Virginia followed.

 

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 and Rhode Island, wanting its power to tax imports, did not ratify it until the other 12 states threatened to boycott it if it did not adopt the Constitution.  Rhode Island ratified it in 1790.

 

The first ten amendments -- the Bill of Rights -- was 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.

==Slavery==

==Slavery==