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Common Sense
Thomas Paine moves many towards the cause of independence with his pamphlet on "Common Sense." -
Period: to
The Constitutional Convention
The Constitutional Convention takes place, in an attempt to correct many issues with the current government. George Washington is named president. -
Constitution Completed
The Constitution was completed, but not put into effect until 1788. -
Centinel 1. -Antifederalist Paper #1 Released
Centinel concludes that 1) the new Constitution does not include a bill of rights to ward off future crises and 2) we are not currently in such crisis that we must adopt the Constitution right away. -
Federalist Paper #1 Released
Goal was to persuade the people of New York to ratify the Constitution. -
Federalist Paper #10 is Released
Discusses the nature of republican government -
Anti-Federalist Article #10
The New York Antifederalist papers summarizes the main points of it's previous contribution in Cato IV: the “vague and inexplicit” nature of Article II, the Presidential article, could “lead to oppression and ruin.” So why are you prepared to “adopt a system so vague, and which has discarded so many of your valuable rights? Is it because you do not believe that an American can be a tyrant?” –Gordon Lloyd -
Anti- Federalists
Anti-federalists opposed the development of a strong federal government and the ratification of the Constitution in 1788. They wanted the power to remain in the hands of state and local governments. -
Federalists
Federalists wanted a stronger national government and the ratification of the Constitution to help manage debt following the war. -
Constitution Put Into Effect
Even though the Constitution lacked the ratification of Rhode Island, it goes into effect in 1788. -
Federalists Win Battle of New York
The Federalists win the battle of New York by three votes. -
Debate Over Ratification Ends
The debate over ratification ends when Rhode Island becomes the last state to ratify.