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1.5 Ratification of the U.S. Constitution

6 min readfebruary 4, 2023

Annika Tekumulla

Annika Tekumulla

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Annika Tekumulla

Annika Tekumulla

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Introduction

The ratification of the was the process by which the newly written Constitution was approved by the individual states and became the supreme law of the land. The Constitution was written in 1787 at the in Philadelphia and was then submitted to the states for ratification.

The ratification process was not without controversy, with strong opposition from those who felt that the new Constitution gave too much power to the central government and took away rights from the states and individuals. This opposition was addressed through a series of debates and compromises, known as the , which were written by , , and to explain and support the proposed Constitution.

In the end, the Constitution was ratified by nine of the thirteen states, with the other four states ratifying it later. The ratification process was completed on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution. This made the Constitution the supreme law of the land and established the framework for the US government that still exists today.

There were four main compromises that were necessary in order to adopt and ratify the Constitution. These compromises were the , , , and

Key Questions

  • Why was the written and why was its ratification necessary?

  • How was the ratification of the Constitution received by the American people and what were the debates over its ratification?

  • What role did the play in the ratification process?

  • How did the view the Constitution and what were their concerns about its ratification?

  • How were the compromises reached in the Constitution, such as the and the , received during the ratification process?

  • What was the outcome of the ratification process and how many states ratified the Constitution?

  • How did the impact the balance of power between the federal government and the states, and how has this balance evolved over time?

  • What was the significance of the in the ratification process and why was it added to the Constitution?

  • How has the been amended over time and what was the significance of these amendments in the evolution of ?

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a key agreement reached during the drafting of the at the in 1787. The compromise resolved a major conflict between the small states and the large states over representation in the legislative branch of the federal government.

The small states wanted equal representation for each state in the legislative branch, regardless of population size. The large states, on the other hand, wanted representation to be based on population, giving them a greater voice in the federal government.

The Great Compromise resolved the conflict by establishing a two-chamber legislature, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives would be based on population, with each state getting a number of seats proportional to its population. The Senate, on the other hand, would have equal representation for each state, with two senators per state.

This compromise helped to balance the interests of both the small and large states and was crucial in ensuring the eventual ratification of the . It established a federal system of government that gives both the states and the people representation in the legislative branch and has been the basis for the American system of government for over 200 years.

Electoral College 

The is a system used in the United States to elect the President and Vice President of the country. The was established by the and has been used in every presidential election since the first election in 1788.

Under the system, each state is assigned a certain number of electors based on its population. A total of 538 electors make up the , with the number of electors for each state equal to the number of its Representatives in Congress (House of Representatives and Senate) combined.

On Election Day, citizens in each state vote for President and Vice President, but it is actually the electors who cast the official votes for these offices. The candidate who wins the most votes in a state (with the exception of Maine and Nebraska) wins all of that state's electoral votes. The candidate who wins a majority of the electoral votes (at least 270 out of 538) becomes the President.

The has been the subject of criticism and controversy over the years, with some people arguing that it is an outdated system that can result in a candidate winning the presidency even if they lose the popular vote. Nevertheless, the remains in place and continues to be used in US presidential elections.

Three-Fifths Compromise  

The was a political agreement reached during the drafting of the at the in 1787. The compromise was reached between the northern states and the southern states and concerned the representation of slaves in the US Congress.

At the time, the southern states wanted slaves to be counted as full persons for purposes of determining the number of seats each state would have in the US House of Representatives and, therefore, the number of electoral votes each state would have in presidential elections. The northern states, on the other hand, wanted slaves to be excluded from the population count and not to be considered for purposes of representation.

The resolved the conflict by counting each slave as three-fifths of a person for purposes of determining representation in the US Congress. This meant that the southern states would have more seats in the House of Representatives and more electoral votes in presidential elections than they would have had if slaves were excluded from the population count, but fewer seats and electoral votes than they would have had if slaves were counted as full persons.

The was a compromise in name only, as it effectively allowed the southern states to increase their political power by counting slaves as part of their population, while denying those same slaves any political rights or representation. The compromise was one of several factors that contributed to the tensions between the northern and southern states that eventually led to the American Civil War.

Compromise on the Importation of Slaves 

The , also known as the Slave Trade Compromise, was another agreement reached during the drafting of the at the in 1787. The compromise addressed the issue of the transatlantic slave trade and the future of slavery in the United States.

At the time, the southern states were heavily dependent on slavery and wanted to ensure that they could continue to import slaves from Africa to work on their plantations. The northern states, on the other hand, were moving away from slavery and wanted to ban or limit the importation of slaves.

The resolved the conflict by allowing the transatlantic slave trade to continue for 20 years. After that time, Congress would have the power to regulate the slave trade, but not to ban it outright. This meant that the southern states could continue to import slaves for the next two decades, but would have to rely on the domestic slave market after that.

The was a critical moment in the history of slavery in the United States and had lasting implications. The continued importation of slaves for the next 20 years helped to solidify the institution of slavery and increase the number of enslaved people in the United States, setting the stage for the eventual conflict over slavery that would lead to the American Civil War.

🎥 Watch: AP GOPO - Constitutional Convention

Key Terms to Review (13)

Alexander Hamilton

: Alexander Hamilton was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, first Secretary of the Treasury, and a strong advocate for a centralized federal government.

American Democracy

: American Democracy refers to the system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives. It's characterized by principles of liberty, equality, and justice.

Anti-Federalist Movement

: This was a movement that opposed the creation of a stronger U.S. federal government and which later opposed ratification of the Constitution in 1788.

Bill of Rights

: The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution that protect individual liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and press; right to bear arms; protection against unreasonable searches and seizures; etc.

Compromise on the Importation of Slaves

: This was a compromise reached during the 1787 United States Constitutional Convention that allowed Congress to prohibit the importation of slaves after 1808, but did not address the issue of domestic slavery.

Constitutional Convention

: The Constitutional Convention was a meeting held in 1787 where delegates from twelve states wrote the U.S. Constitution.

Electoral College

: The Electoral College is a process established by the United States Constitution for electing the president and vice president, where citizens vote for electors pledged to cast their ballots for particular candidates.

Federalist Papers

: The Federalist Papers are a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay promoting ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

: The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was an agreement during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that large and small states reached that in part defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the United States Constitution.

James Madison

: James Madison was an American statesman, diplomat, expansionist, philosopher and Founding Father who served as the fourth president of United States from 1809-1817. He is hailed as "Father of Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting U.S constitution and Bill Of Rights.

John Jay

: John Jay was an American statesman, patriot, diplomat and Founding Father who served as the United States' first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He also co-authored the Federalist Papers along with Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.

Three-Fifths Compromise

: The Three-Fifths Compromise was a compromise reached among state delegates during the 1787 United States Constitutional Convention due to disputes over how enslaved people would be counted when determining a state's total population for legislative representation and taxing purposes.

US Constitution

: The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States, outlining the structure of the national government and defining the rights and freedoms of American citizens.

1.5 Ratification of the U.S. Constitution

6 min readfebruary 4, 2023

Annika Tekumulla

Annika Tekumulla

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Annika Tekumulla

Annika Tekumulla

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Introduction

The ratification of the was the process by which the newly written Constitution was approved by the individual states and became the supreme law of the land. The Constitution was written in 1787 at the in Philadelphia and was then submitted to the states for ratification.

The ratification process was not without controversy, with strong opposition from those who felt that the new Constitution gave too much power to the central government and took away rights from the states and individuals. This opposition was addressed through a series of debates and compromises, known as the , which were written by , , and to explain and support the proposed Constitution.

In the end, the Constitution was ratified by nine of the thirteen states, with the other four states ratifying it later. The ratification process was completed on June 21, 1788, when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution. This made the Constitution the supreme law of the land and established the framework for the US government that still exists today.

There were four main compromises that were necessary in order to adopt and ratify the Constitution. These compromises were the , , , and

Key Questions

  • Why was the written and why was its ratification necessary?

  • How was the ratification of the Constitution received by the American people and what were the debates over its ratification?

  • What role did the play in the ratification process?

  • How did the view the Constitution and what were their concerns about its ratification?

  • How were the compromises reached in the Constitution, such as the and the , received during the ratification process?

  • What was the outcome of the ratification process and how many states ratified the Constitution?

  • How did the impact the balance of power between the federal government and the states, and how has this balance evolved over time?

  • What was the significance of the in the ratification process and why was it added to the Constitution?

  • How has the been amended over time and what was the significance of these amendments in the evolution of ?

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a key agreement reached during the drafting of the at the in 1787. The compromise resolved a major conflict between the small states and the large states over representation in the legislative branch of the federal government.

The small states wanted equal representation for each state in the legislative branch, regardless of population size. The large states, on the other hand, wanted representation to be based on population, giving them a greater voice in the federal government.

The Great Compromise resolved the conflict by establishing a two-chamber legislature, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives would be based on population, with each state getting a number of seats proportional to its population. The Senate, on the other hand, would have equal representation for each state, with two senators per state.

This compromise helped to balance the interests of both the small and large states and was crucial in ensuring the eventual ratification of the . It established a federal system of government that gives both the states and the people representation in the legislative branch and has been the basis for the American system of government for over 200 years.

Electoral College 

The is a system used in the United States to elect the President and Vice President of the country. The was established by the and has been used in every presidential election since the first election in 1788.

Under the system, each state is assigned a certain number of electors based on its population. A total of 538 electors make up the , with the number of electors for each state equal to the number of its Representatives in Congress (House of Representatives and Senate) combined.

On Election Day, citizens in each state vote for President and Vice President, but it is actually the electors who cast the official votes for these offices. The candidate who wins the most votes in a state (with the exception of Maine and Nebraska) wins all of that state's electoral votes. The candidate who wins a majority of the electoral votes (at least 270 out of 538) becomes the President.

The has been the subject of criticism and controversy over the years, with some people arguing that it is an outdated system that can result in a candidate winning the presidency even if they lose the popular vote. Nevertheless, the remains in place and continues to be used in US presidential elections.

Three-Fifths Compromise  

The was a political agreement reached during the drafting of the at the in 1787. The compromise was reached between the northern states and the southern states and concerned the representation of slaves in the US Congress.

At the time, the southern states wanted slaves to be counted as full persons for purposes of determining the number of seats each state would have in the US House of Representatives and, therefore, the number of electoral votes each state would have in presidential elections. The northern states, on the other hand, wanted slaves to be excluded from the population count and not to be considered for purposes of representation.

The resolved the conflict by counting each slave as three-fifths of a person for purposes of determining representation in the US Congress. This meant that the southern states would have more seats in the House of Representatives and more electoral votes in presidential elections than they would have had if slaves were excluded from the population count, but fewer seats and electoral votes than they would have had if slaves were counted as full persons.

The was a compromise in name only, as it effectively allowed the southern states to increase their political power by counting slaves as part of their population, while denying those same slaves any political rights or representation. The compromise was one of several factors that contributed to the tensions between the northern and southern states that eventually led to the American Civil War.

Compromise on the Importation of Slaves 

The , also known as the Slave Trade Compromise, was another agreement reached during the drafting of the at the in 1787. The compromise addressed the issue of the transatlantic slave trade and the future of slavery in the United States.

At the time, the southern states were heavily dependent on slavery and wanted to ensure that they could continue to import slaves from Africa to work on their plantations. The northern states, on the other hand, were moving away from slavery and wanted to ban or limit the importation of slaves.

The resolved the conflict by allowing the transatlantic slave trade to continue for 20 years. After that time, Congress would have the power to regulate the slave trade, but not to ban it outright. This meant that the southern states could continue to import slaves for the next two decades, but would have to rely on the domestic slave market after that.

The was a critical moment in the history of slavery in the United States and had lasting implications. The continued importation of slaves for the next 20 years helped to solidify the institution of slavery and increase the number of enslaved people in the United States, setting the stage for the eventual conflict over slavery that would lead to the American Civil War.

🎥 Watch: AP GOPO - Constitutional Convention

Key Terms to Review (13)

Alexander Hamilton

: Alexander Hamilton was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, first Secretary of the Treasury, and a strong advocate for a centralized federal government.

American Democracy

: American Democracy refers to the system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives. It's characterized by principles of liberty, equality, and justice.

Anti-Federalist Movement

: This was a movement that opposed the creation of a stronger U.S. federal government and which later opposed ratification of the Constitution in 1788.

Bill of Rights

: The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution that protect individual liberties such as freedom of speech, religion, and press; right to bear arms; protection against unreasonable searches and seizures; etc.

Compromise on the Importation of Slaves

: This was a compromise reached during the 1787 United States Constitutional Convention that allowed Congress to prohibit the importation of slaves after 1808, but did not address the issue of domestic slavery.

Constitutional Convention

: The Constitutional Convention was a meeting held in 1787 where delegates from twelve states wrote the U.S. Constitution.

Electoral College

: The Electoral College is a process established by the United States Constitution for electing the president and vice president, where citizens vote for electors pledged to cast their ballots for particular candidates.

Federalist Papers

: The Federalist Papers are a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay promoting ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

: The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was an agreement during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that large and small states reached that in part defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the United States Constitution.

James Madison

: James Madison was an American statesman, diplomat, expansionist, philosopher and Founding Father who served as the fourth president of United States from 1809-1817. He is hailed as "Father of Constitution" for his pivotal role in drafting and promoting U.S constitution and Bill Of Rights.

John Jay

: John Jay was an American statesman, patriot, diplomat and Founding Father who served as the United States' first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He also co-authored the Federalist Papers along with Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.

Three-Fifths Compromise

: The Three-Fifths Compromise was a compromise reached among state delegates during the 1787 United States Constitutional Convention due to disputes over how enslaved people would be counted when determining a state's total population for legislative representation and taxing purposes.

US Constitution

: The US Constitution is the supreme law of the United States, outlining the structure of the national government and defining the rights and freedoms of American citizens.


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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.