ratification

Examples of ratification in the following topics:

• Article VII

  • Article Seven of the United States Constitution provides how many state ratifications were necessary in order for the Constitution to take effect and how a state could ratify it.
  • The ratification of the conventions of nine states, shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution between the states so ratifying the same.

• The Holdouts: Virginia and New York

  • New York and Virginia both faced ratification battles on ideological grounds.
  • It was within the power of the old Congress to expedite or block the ratification of the new Constitution.
  • What followed was an arduous process of ratification by specially constituted conventions.
  • A major issue during the Virginia Ratification Convention was the question of individual rights.
  • Examine the reasons why New York and Virginia hesitated to support the ratification of the Constitution

• Article V

  • Article Five of the United States Constitution describes the process whereby the Constitution may be altered; altering the Constitution consists of proposing an amendment or amendments and subsequent ratification.
  • The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.

• From Property to Democracy

  • At the time of ratification of the Constitution, most states used property qualifications to restrict franchise.
  • At the time of ratification of the Constitution, most states used property qualifications to restrict franchise.
  • At the time of the ratification of the Articles of Confederation, all free native-born inhabitants of the States of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina, though descended from African slaves, were not only citizens of those States, but such of them as had the other necessary qualifications possessed the franchise of electors, on equal terms with other citizens. "
  • Differentiate the ways states restricted franchise after the ratification of the Constitution

• The Ratification Debate

  • The old Congress maintained the powers to expedite or block its ratification.
  • The fight for ratification was arduous, largely because special conventions were required in lieu of hearings within the state legislatures for ratification.
  • Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote a series of essays popularly referred to as The Federalist Papers, which supported ratification and attacked the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
  • Maryland and South Carolina also ratified, and then New Hampshire provided the all-important ninth ratification.
  • The process of organizing the government began soon after Virginia and New York's ratification.

• The Ratification of the Constitution

  • Those who favored ratification of the Constitution were known as Federalists, while those who opposed it were considered Anti- Federalists.
  • The fight for ratification was long and difficult, largely because special conventions were required in lieu of hearings within the state legislatures for ratification of the Constitution.
  • Those who favored ratification were known as Federalists, while those who opposed it were considered Anti-Federalists.
  • In a series of pamphlets supporting ratification, Federalists attacked the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
  • The process of organizing the government began soon after ratification by Virginia and New York.

• Ratification of the Constitution

  • On September 26, 1789, Congress sent a list of twelve amendments to the states for ratification.

• The Anti-Federalists

  • Anti-Federalists were those opposed to ratification of the US Constitution following the Revolutionary War.
  • During the period of debate over the Constitution's ratification, numerous independent local speeches and articles were published countrywide.
  • In North Carolina and Rhode Island it prevented ratification until definite establishment of the new government practically forced compliance.
  • The Anti-Federalists appealed to these sentiments in the ratification convention in Massachusetts.
  • Four of the next five states to ratify, including New Hampshire, Virginia, and New York, included similar language in their ratification instruments.

• The Final Document

  • Several states enlarged the numbers qualified just for electing ratification delegates.
  • The requirement of ratification by nine states, set by Article Seven of the Constitution, was met when New Hampshire voted to ratify on June 21, 1788.
  • Following Massachusetts's lead, the Federalist minorities in both Virginia and New York were able to obtain ratification in convention by linking ratification to recommended amendments.
  • After a year had passed in state-by-state ratification battles, on September 13, 1788, Congress certified that the new Constitution had been ratified.
  • Identify the reasons for why delegates initially opposed the ratification of the Constitution

• Federalists

  • Federalists supported ratification of the new United States Constitution and published The Federalist Papers to encourage support from the states.
  • These supported ratification and attacked the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
  • The Federalist Papers were written to support ratification of the Constitution, specifically in New York.
  • Separate ratification proceedings took place in each state, and the essays were not reliably reprinted outside of New York.
  • Specifically, the personal influence of well-known Federalists such as Hamilton and Jay was an important factor during ratification conventions.