When the Massachusetts Convention gathered in early January, 1788 to consider ratification off the Constitution, the state faced three hurdles to ratification. All three must be solved before Massachusetts can become the 6th State to ratify the Constitution…
Massachusetts debates ratification and while the Federalists and Antii-Federalist positions over national defense become more defined.
The State of Connecticut becomes the fifth State to ratify the Constitution
The State of Georgia ratifies the Constitution mainly for her own self-interests
For the first time there is some organized opposition to the Constitution in the State of Pennsylvania’s debates. But an enterprising solution is found to squash the Anti-Federalists arguments
Delaware rushes to become the first State to ratify the proposed Constitution
Oddly, given the news of the day, one of the Anti-Federalist arguments against the Constitution was it’s ban on requirements for religious tests to hold office
John DeWitts second letter lays out the case for rejecting the Constitution on the grounds that it does not contain a Bill of Rights
Publius, in the second Federalist Paper, appeals to the need for national unity
As the national debate begins, the writers of The Federalist Papers take on the pen name of one of the great Roman Republicans
The first editorial letters regarding the proposed Constitution begin to appear around the nation. Signed in the name of one of the great Dutch Republicans, the Dewitt letters call into question the wisdom of the proposed new national government
Appearing just three weeks after the end of the Convention, the Federal Farmer demonstrates that not everybody is in agreement with the new Constitutional plan.
As the Convention ends, the delegates race to leave town, almost costing one of them his life.
Constitution Thursday 