To Ratify or Not to Ratify: The Great Debate

Rosie Jayde Uyola
Oct 9
3 min read

Essential Question (Aim)

Why were Americans so deeply divided over the proposed Constitution, and how did they come to an agreement?

Key Vocabulary

Ratify: To formally approve or pass something, making it officially valid.
Federalist: A person who supported the new U.S. Constitution and a strong central government.
Anti-Federalist: A person who was against the new U.S. Constitution, fearing it gave the central government too much power.
Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the Constitution that list and protect our basic rights.
Faction: A small, organized group within a larger one that has different, often selfish, interests (like a political party).

Part 1: Do Now (5 minutes)

Directions: Imagine a new, powerful app is released that can manage your entire digital life-- social media, banking, schoolwork -- all in one place. It would be incredibly convenient. In a complete paragraph (5-8 sentences), explain the potential benefits AND the potential dangers of giving one single app that much power and control over your personal information.

Sentence Starters (Optional):

A major benefit of this app would be ____________________________. For example, it could ____________________________. However, a serious danger is that ____________________________. I would be worried about ____________________________ because ____________________________.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Part 2: The Great Debate - Analyzing the Sources

Directions: Read the two primary source excerpts below. The table provides the original text and a simplified version to help your understanding.

Source 1: James Madison (A Federalist), Federalist No. 10, 1787

Original Text

Simplified Text

"Among the numerous advantages promised by a well-constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction... A republic... promises the cure for which we are seeking... The smaller the society, the fewer probably will be the distinct parties and interests composing it... and the more easily will they... execute their plans of oppression. Extend the sphere, and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens."

A major advantage of a strong Union is its ability to control the damage and violence caused by factions (groups with selfish interests). A republic is the solution we're looking for. In a small country or state, it's easy for a majority to form and oppress the minority. But in a large country like the U.S., there will be so many different groups and interests that it will be very difficult for one single group to take over and take away the rights of other citizens.

Source 2: "Brutus" (An Anti-Federalist), Anti-Federalist No. 1, 1787

Original Text

Simplified Text

"The territory of the United States is of vast extent... Is it practicable for a country, so large... to be governed in freedom? ...The government will be possessed of absolute and uncontrollable power... This government is to possess absolute and uncontrollable power, legislative, executive and judicial... It is true this government is limited to certain objects... but a little attention to the powers vested in the general government, will convince every candid man, that... all that is reserved for the individual states must very soon be annihilated..."

The United States is huge. Is it even possible for such a big country to be governed and remain free? This new government will have absolute and unstoppable power in all branches (legislative, executive, judicial). Even though they say the government's power is limited, if you look closely, it's clear that all the powers that are supposed to be left for the states will soon be completely destroyed.

Think-Ink-Pair-Share

1. Think & Ink: Use the T-Chart below to pull out at least two key arguments or fears for each side based on the texts.

Federalist Arguments (Madison)	Anti-Federalist Arguments (Brutus)
1. ___________________________________	1. ___________________________________
___________________________________	___________________________________
2. ___________________________________	2. ___________________________________
___________________________________	___________________________________

2. Pair & Share: Turn to a partner and discuss:

What is the biggest fear of each side?
What problem is each side trying to solve?

Part 3: Exit Ticket (5 minutes)

Directions: You are a citizen of New York in 1788, undecided about the new Constitution. In a paragraph of at least 5-8 sentences, explain which side, Federalist or Anti-Federalist, you find more convincing and why. Use at least one specific argument from the sources to support your position. Finally, state what compromise would make you feel comfortable ratifying the Constitution.

Sentence Starters & Paragraph Frame (Optional):

As a citizen of New York in 1788, I find the (Federalist OR Anti-Federalist) argument more convincing. They believed that ____________________________________________________________________. For instance, in the text, (Madison OR Brutus) states, "__________________________________________." This argument makes the most sense to me because ________________________________________________________. While I agree with this side, I would only feel comfortable ratifying the Constitution if the framers agreed to the compromise of _______________________________________________________________________.