AQA · A-Level · History

    Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017

    Ratification of the new Republic: the forwarding of the constitution to…

    Full specification wording

    2G The Birth of the USA, 1760–1801 – Founding the Republic, 1776–1789 (A-level only): Ratification of the new Republic: the forwarding of the constitution to the states by the Continental Congress, ratification of the constitution by state conventions

    Following the Philadelphia Convention, the Continental Congress forwarded the proposed Constitution to the states, initiating a rigorous ratification process.

    Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 4 of 4
    • 3 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    Following the Philadelphia Convention, the Continental Congress forwarded the proposed Constitution to the states, initiating a rigorous ratification process. Rather than using state legislatures, ratification occurred through specially elected state conventions, requiring approval from nine of the thirteen states. This bypassed vested interests in existing state governments. The Federalist Papers played a vital role in swaying public opinion, while the promise of a Bill of Rights was the decisive concession needed to secure ratification from sceptical state conventions.

    What earns the marks

    • Explain the procedural decision by the Continental Congress to forward the Constitution to specially elected state conventions rather than existing state legislatures.
    • Analyse the requirement for nine out of thirteen states to ratify the Constitution for it to take effect, bypassing the unanimity required under the Articles of Confederation.
    • Evaluate the strategies used by Federalists to secure ratification in key battleground states, including the publication of the Federalist Papers in New York.
    • Assess the role of the Anti-Federalists in state conventions and how their demand for a Bill of Rights forced a crucial compromise that enabled final ratification.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Claiming that state legislatures ratified the Constitution.

      Put it right by specifying that specially elected state ratifying conventions were used to bypass legislative opposition.

    • Assuming the Constitution required unanimous approval to be enacted.

      Put it right by stating that Article VII required only nine of the thirteen states to ratify it.

    • Believing the Continental Congress actively campaigned for the Constitution.

      Put it right by noting Congress merely forwarded the document to the states without a formal recommendation.

    Exam tips

    • Focus on the ratification struggles in large, influential states like Virginia and New York, as their approval was practically essential for the new Republic's survival.
    • Discuss the strategic advantage the Federalists held by being proactive and offering a concrete plan, compared to the Anti-Federalists' largely negative opposition.
    • Analyse the promise of the Bill of Rights not just as an ideological addition, but as a pragmatic political tool used to win over moderate delegates in state conventions.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the 2G The Birth of the USA, 1760–1801 – Founding the Republic, 1776–1789 (A-level only): Ratification of the new Republic: the forwarding of the constitution to the states by the Continental Congress, ratification of the constitution by state conventions lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    After the Philadelphia Convention, what process was established for the ratification of the new United States Constitution?

    Listen

    Following the Philadelphia Convention, the Continental Congress forwarded the proposed Constitution to the states, initiating a rigorous ratification process. Rather than using state legislatures, ratification occurred through specially elected state conventions, requiring approval from nine of the thirteen states. This bypassed vested interests in existing state governments. The Federalist Papers played a vital role in swaying public opinion, while the promise of a Bill of Rights was the decisive concession needed to secure ratification from sceptical state conventions. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explain the procedural decision by the Continental Congress to forward the Constitution to specially elected state conventions rather than existing state legislatures. Analyse the requirement for nine out of thirteen states to ratify the Constitution for it to take effect, bypassing the unanimity required under the Articles of Confederation. Evaluate the strategies used by Federalists to secure ratification in key battleground states, including the publication of the Federalist Papers in New York. Assess the role of the Anti-Federalists in state conventions and how their demand for a Bill of Rights forced a crucial compromise that enabled final ratification. A common slip: Claiming that state legislatures ratified the Constitution. Instead, specifying that specially elected state ratifying conventions were used to bypass legislative opposition. Exam tip: Focus on the ratification struggles in large, influential states like Virginia and New York, as their approval was practically essential for the new Republic's survival.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. The first box, Philadelphia Convention, leads to a box reading that the Continental Congress forwards the Constitution to the states. That leads to a box noting specially elected state conventions, not state legislatures. That leads to a box on state-level ratification battles. From this box two branches emerge: one to a box saying the Federalist Papers sway public opinion, and one to a box on Anti-Federalist demand for a Bill of Rights, which leads to a box on the promise of a Bill of Rights as the decisive concession. Both the Federalist Papers box and the Bill of Rights concession box lead to a final box reading ratification by nine of the thirteen states.
    It shows the sequence from the Philadelphia Convention through Congress forwarding the Constitution, ratification by specially elected state conventions, the state-level battles and the concession of a Bill of Rights, to ratification by nine of the thirteen states.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Political strategy and campaigning

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Public opinion and the press

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Constitutional legality and process

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Political strategy and campaigning
    The proactive tactics used by Federalists to secure ratification in key battleground states, including the publication of the Federalist Papers in New York.
    Public opinion and the press
    The role of the Federalist Papers in swaying public opinion during the fierce state-level ratification battles.
    Constitutional legality and process
    The forwarding of the constitution to the states by the Continental Congress and its ratification by state conventions, requiring approval from nine of the thirteen states.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. The first box, Philadelphia Convention, leads to a box reading that the Continental Congress forwards the Constitution to the states. That leads to a box noting specially elected state conventions, not state legislatures. That leads to a box on state-level ratification battles. From this box two branches emerge: one to a box saying the Federalist Papers sway public opinion, and one to a box on Anti-Federalist demand for a Bill of Rights, which leads to a box on the promise of a Bill of Rights as the decisive concession. Both the Federalist Papers box and the Bill of Rights concession box lead to a final box reading ratification by nine of the thirteen states.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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