Before the Constitution could go into effect, it had to be ratified by nine of the thirteen states. Two parties, the Federalists and anti-Federalists, emerged and became entrenched in a fierce debate over the document. Federalists argued in favor of the Constitution, while their opponents argued against it. At the heart of the debate was the question of liberty. Anti-Federalists believed that liberty rests in the individual’s right to self-govern. A central government, they argued, would compromise this right. Federalists, on the other hand, believed that a centralized government would protect liberty. In the end, through a number of several compromises, the Constitution was ratified. The Constitution has been described as a “bundle of compromises,”
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They felt that ordinary Americans, and members of minority communes in particular, would be persecuted by the rich: “only men of wealth, ‘ignorant of the sentiments of the middling and lower class of citizens’ would have the resources to win election.’” As such, they thought the “common people” would be dominated by the “well-born.” (p. 266) In other words, anti-Federalists believed the checks and balances championed by the Federalists would be used to privilege the rich. Indeed, the Constitutions most adamant supporters were the rich. In the end, through a number of several compromises, the Constitution was ratified. The Constitution has been described as a “bundle of compromises,” and this description is very much accurate. Perhaps the most significant compromise in shaping the new nation was the inclusion of a Bill of Rights. Anti-Federalists wanted a Bill of Rights because they thought it would protect such rights as the trial by jury, freedom of speech, and others. Without including a Bill of Rights, they argued, the federal government could persecute its people. Federalists, on the other hand, thought they were a given and unnecessary to include.
Following the Revolution, the freedoms of both Loyalists and Native Americans were …show more content…
For example, Congress required residents to pledge their allegiance to the new country. People who did not were not allowed to vote. Some were even exiled from their communities. Indeed, some 60 thousand were banished abroad, to Britain, Canada, and the West Indies. Others lost their property, including their land and businesses. Although Americans pledged to end the persecution of Loyalists in the Treaty of Paris of 1783, and although they were eventually reintegrated into American society, property confiscated from Loyalists was never
They felt that ordinary Americans, and members of minority communes in particular, would be persecuted by the rich: “only men of wealth, ‘ignorant of the sentiments of the middling and lower class of citizens’ would have the resources to win election.’” As such, they thought the “common people” would be dominated by the “well-born.” (p. 266) In other words, anti-Federalists believed the checks and balances championed by the Federalists would be used to privilege the rich. Indeed, the Constitutions most adamant supporters were the rich. In the end, through a number of several compromises, the Constitution was ratified. The Constitution has been described as a “bundle of compromises,” and this description is very much accurate. Perhaps the most significant compromise in shaping the new nation was the inclusion of a Bill of Rights. Anti-Federalists wanted a Bill of Rights because they thought it would protect such rights as the trial by jury, freedom of speech, and others. Without including a Bill of Rights, they argued, the federal government could persecute its people. Federalists, on the other hand, thought they were a given and unnecessary to include.
Following the Revolution, the freedoms of both Loyalists and Native Americans were …show more content…
For example, Congress required residents to pledge their allegiance to the new country. People who did not were not allowed to vote. Some were even exiled from their communities. Indeed, some 60 thousand were banished abroad, to Britain, Canada, and the West Indies. Others lost their property, including their land and businesses. Although Americans pledged to end the persecution of Loyalists in the Treaty of Paris of 1783, and although they were eventually reintegrated into American society, property confiscated from Loyalists was never