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→Ratification: conspiracy
The '''[[Federalist Party]]''' originated around 1792-3 and comprised a somewhat different coalition, including most supporters of the Constitution in 1787-88 as well as entirely new elements, and even some opponents of the Constitution (such as [[Patrick Henry]].) Madison largely wrote the Constitution and thus was a "Federalist" in 1787-88, but by 1792 he opposed the program of the Hamiltonians and their new "Federalist Party."
The '''[[Federalist Party]]''' originated around 1792-3 and comprised a somewhat different coalition, including most supporters of the Constitution in 1787-88 as well as entirely new elements, and even some opponents of the Constitution (such as [[Patrick Henry]].) Madison largely wrote the Constitution and thus was a "Federalist" in 1787-88, but by 1792 he opposed the program of the Hamiltonians and their new "Federalist Party."
==Conspiracy==
Various conspiracy theories have been proposed about the Constitution, but all have been rejected by conservative scholars. For example the Progressive historians (led by [[Charles Beard]]), as well as Marxists, have portrayed the Constitution as a conspiracy of powerful merchants to enrich themselves further and to stop the growth of democracy. That was false, as is the notion that the Constitutional Convention was somehow illegal or in violation of the laws. (The Convention was called by the existing Congress, which unanimously sent the finished document to the states for ratification.)<ref> For a good review and refutation of conspiracy theories, see [http://www.americanrevolution.org/grassman.html Dr. Curtis E. Grassman, "Conspiracy and the Making of the Constitution" online] which concludes, "The various conspiracy theses have not been very convincing. The historical proof or evidence offered by this school of historians has almost always been found wanting upon further investigation."</ref>
==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==