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16. Ratifying the Constitution

Federalists against Antifederalists, state by state, and the Bill of Rights that the losing side won.

16. Ratifying the Constitution

The Flag Room — The United States is born. A framework for a new and stronger national government had been crafted at the Philadelphia Convention by a handful…

16a. Federalists

Along with John Jay and Alexander Hamilton, James Madison penned The Federalist Papers. The supporters of the proposed Constitution called themselves "Federali…

16b. Antifederalists

Patrick Henry delivers his famous "If this be treason, make the most of it!" speech to the Virginia House of Burgesses. The Antifederalists were a diverse coal…

16c. The Ratification Process: State by State

The man behind the signature: This portrait of John Hancock was painted by John Singleton Copley. The ratification process started when the Congress turned the…

16d. After the Fact: Virginia, New York, and "The Federalist Papers"

The Federalist Papers were a series of essays by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison written for the Federalist newspaper. The convention in Virgini…

16e. The Antifederalists' Victory in Defeat

1987 marked the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution. With the narrow approval of the Constitution in Virginia and New York, in June and July 1788, respe…