Chapter 6, Debating the Constitution Summary

The debate over ratification also takes place among the population in the public venue. This is evidenced by the many writings that appear supporting both the Federalist and Anti-Federalist positions. There is no way to ascertain the consensus of popular thinking on the subject. In many ways, individual opinions rested upon the prestige and popularity of the delegates who wrote the Constitution, like Washington and Franklin. As a Boston newspaper writes: “The framers were a’ band of Patriots and Philosophers, who would have adorned the history of Greece and Rome, in their most brilliant areas’; even the ‘punctuality’ with which they assembled ‘and the long time they spend in the deliberations of each day (sometimes seven hours) are proofs, among other things, how much they are entitled to the universal confidence of the people of America’” (pg...