The Road to Ratification
In The Road to Ratification, the Constitution has been written and nine out of 13 states need to ratify it for it to become the official “law of the land” for the United States. As the process begins, two groups, the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, argue for and against ratification. In the end, the Anti-Federalist idea of a Bill of Rights is added to the Constitution and the U.S. becomes a country in June 1788 when New Hampshire is the ninth state to ratify.
Lesson Express
Q: How many states needed to ratify the Constitution? Why do you think the delegates decided this?
A: Nine out of 13 states needed to ratify it. Student responses will vary. Students may mention that this meant that one state could not “take down” the entire Constitution.
Q: When it came to ratifying the Constitution, what did the Federalists want? What did the Anti-Federalists want?
A: The Federalists wanted to ratify the Constitution as is; the Anti-Federalists wanted to add a Bill of Rights before ratifying.
Q: Review a map of the United States in 1788. What states were included? Which ratified the Constitution? Did any not ratify it?
A: Students review a map; students will learn that all 13 colonies except Rhode Island ratified the Constitution. Rhode Island ratified it in 1790.
You Might Also Like
The Articles of Confederation were the first plan of government for the United States. Written during the Revolutionary War, they created a loose union of the 13 states and gave most power to the states rather than the national government. After more than a year of debate, Congress adopted the Articles in 1777, and Maryland became the final state to ratify them in 1781.
The national government under the Articles had limited powers. It could declare war, conduct diplomacy, and approve western expansion, but it could not collect taxes, regulate trade, or enforce its laws. After the war, these weaknesses became increasingly clear. In 1787, political leaders met at the Constitutional Convention and created a stronger federal government. The Constitution replaced the Articles in 1789.
In A Constitution Created Through Compromise, the delegates who came together in 1787 knew they had to create something entirely new to keep the young country together. They came up with a Constitution that was created through compromise, merging two plans: the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.
The Articles of Confederation were the first plan of government for the United States. Written during the Revolutionary War, they created a loose union of the 13 states and gave most power to the states rather than the national government. After more than a year of debate, Congress adopted the Articles in 1777, and Maryland became the final state to ratify them in 1781.
The national government under the Articles had limited powers. It could declare war, conduct diplomacy, and approve western expansion, but it could not collect taxes, regulate trade, or enforce its laws. After the war, these weaknesses became increasingly clear. In 1787, political leaders met at the Constitutional Convention and created a stronger federal government. The Constitution replaced the Articles in 1789.
In A Constitution Created Through Compromise, the delegates who came together in 1787 knew they had to create something entirely new to keep the young country together. They came up with a Constitution that was created through compromise, merging two plans: the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.