Читать книгу American Democracy in Context - Joseph A. Pika - Страница 81

The vote to approve the Constitution at the Convention was only the beginning of the battle. The document still had to be ratified by the states. Article VII of the Constitution spelled out the procedure: Each state would hold a ratifying convention. For the Constitution to take effect, at least nine of the thirteen conventions would have to vote in favor of approval. Once nine states voted to approve the Constitution, any states failing to vote for approval would exist as independent nations. The process ended up lasting more than two and a half years, during which time the Articles of Confederation remained in place. Unlike the deliberations at the Constitutional Convention, which were shrouded in secrecy, debate over the ratification of the Constitution was a distinctly public affair and the conventions were widely covered by the press.

Federalists Those who supported ratification of the Constitution and the stronger national government that it created.

Anti-Federalists States’ rights advocates who opposed the ratification of the Constitution.