
It took until the middle of the following year to receive the majority necessary for ratification to take place. This is where things got a little more difficult for the Federalists, who were hoping for a quick process and getting on with the new proposals. The next step was to pass it on to Congress, who approved and sent it out for ratification. There was enough compromise in the share of power and the representation of states to keep most people happy – although some delegates still refused to sign.

The Constitution Could Not Become Official Without RatificationĮventually, a resolution was made, and a constitution was drafted. The Anti-Federalists, meanwhile, feared that smaller states with few representatives would be at a disadvantage and that their people would suffer as a consequence.
#WHEN WERE THE FEDERALIST PAPERS WRITTEN HOW TO#
Views varied between the members about the details on how to build this system, with some too focused on emulating Great British. One of the main focuses of the Federalist campaign was the need for a stronger centralized government that could deal with federal law, taxation, and establishing a better system for all United States citizens. The convention was prolonged due to debates over the plans of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists and disputes surrounding proposed compromises. What transpired, however, was that the delegates spent months arguing over the different forms of government, the powers it should have, and the need for a greater centralized system. While important and effective to a point, it was also flawed in terms of the powers given and the areas not touched upon.Ĭongress believed that the convention in Pennsylvania would be an excellent way to make a few necessary amendments to the document so the country could evolve. This original constitution acted as a framework for the newly-independent United States. In May of 1787, a group of delegates from 12 out of 13 states convened in Philadelphia to discuss the Articles of Confederation’s limitations. Federalist Ideals and the Creation of the Constitution They were later collected into a bound book and then further revised long after the adoption of the constitution.

#WHEN WERE THE FEDERALIST PAPERS WRITTEN SERIES#
The aim was to further the Federalist campaign, help convince Anti-Federalists that the constitution was a good idea, and aid the ratification process.Īt first, the papers formed a long-running series in leading New York newspapers. The Federalist Papers sought to convince the public of arguments in favor of the proposed constitution. Under this assumed pen name, they wrote detailed arguments in favor of the United States Constitution in its final draft and against the Articles of Confederation. The Federalist Papers were a series of essays written by a group called Publius.

What are the Federalist Papers, why did they take their serialized form, and why are they important? Why Were the Federalist Papers Written? The next step was to convince Anti-Federalist states to ratify it – which is where the Federalist Papers were born. Each side had clear ideas on how the nation should evolve and the most suitable government structure.Įventually, a compromise led to a final draft of the constitution that favored many fundamental Federalist beliefs.

The dispute between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists played a massive role in shaping the United States following the Revolutionary War.
