Ratification of the Constitution

The ratification of the Constitution was difficult due to the fact some people didn't like the document in the first place. Conventions took place in each state in order to ratify the document. "Article VII stipulated that nine states had to ratify the constitution for it to go into effect". 

 

Did Americans keep calm? Anti federalists was the source of the opposing crowd. The social classes was a concern to some. Delegates of Philadelphia were accused of  being in favor of the higher class citizens. People argued that they had consequently designed a document that "served their special interests and reserved the franchise for the propertied classes".  Power of the central government was another controversy. They argued too much power was given to the central government. Also that it was at the expense of the states. "The most serious criticism was that the Constitutional Convention had failed to adopt a bill of rights proposed by George Mason". The Federalists fought back and was convinced that the rejection of the Constitution would affect the country, ending in anarchy and civil strife. Newspapers such as The Federalists responded to these anti federalists. 

    

How did they actually get to the ratification process with all that criticism and opposing views? Federalists cleared the air regarding the bill of rights arguments. "The the national government was so constrained by the Constitution that it posed no threat to the rights of citizens. Although this was said, during the ratification in Virginia Madison concluded that a bill of rights was needed. In conclusion, the adoption of a bill of rights was leading the country into a new government.