United States History Student Edition

D

E

Thomas Jefferson on Ratification

“Vague and Indefinite Expressions”

At the time the Constitution was written, Thomas Jefferson was living in France as a diplomat. However, he frequently wrote to James Madison to offer his ideas. Madison’s and Jefferson’s letters continued as the states voted on ratification. One of the issues they discussed was individual rights. Jefferson believed they needed to be an essential part of the new American government. constitution is received with favor. I sincerely wish that the 9 first [state] conventions may receive [approve], & the 4. last [state conventions] reject it. The former will secure it finally; while the latter will oblige them to offer a declaration of rights in order to complete the union. We shall thus have all it’s good, and cure it’s principal defect. You will of course be so good as to continue to mark to me [its] progress. ” — To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, February 6, 1788 EXAMINE THE SOURCE 1. Explaining What did Jefferson hope would occur during the ratification process? 2. Analyzing What did Jefferson believe was the Constitution’s “principal defect”? How did he hope the defect might be fixed? PRIMARY SOURCE: LETTER “ I am glad to hear that the new

In the years leading up to the American Revolution, Mercy Otis Warren wrote a series of newspaper articles in Massachusetts to promote patriotism. Her pieces were published anonymously, which hid the fact that they were written by a woman.

During the ratification process for the Constitution, Warren wrote a pamphlet entitled Observations on the New Constitution, and on the Federal and State Conventions under the alias A Columbian Patriot to offer her point of view. PRIMARY SOURCE: PAMPHLET “ The executive and the legislative are so dangerously blended as to give just cause of alarm, and every thing relative thereto, is couched in such ambiguous terms—in such vague and indefinite expressions, as is a sufficient ground without any other objection, for the reprobation of a system, that the authors dare not hazard to a clear investigation. ” — From Observations on the New Constitution , by Mercy Otis Warren, 1788 reprobation disapproval EXAMINE THE SOURCE 1. Explaining What primary point is Warren trying to convey? 2. Analyzing Points of View What does the language that Warren uses, such as the words dangerously and alarm , suggest about her point of view?

PHOTO: John Singleton Copley/Art Reserve/Alamy Stock Photo; TEXT: (l)Jefferson, Thomas. “To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 6 February 1788,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/ Madison/01-10-02-0277. [Original source: The Papers of James Madison, vol. 10, 27 May 1787–3 March 1788, ed. Robert A. Rutland, Charles F. Hobson, William M. E. Rachal, and Frederika J. Teute. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1977, pp. 473–475.] (r)Warren, Mercy Otis. Observations on the new Constitution, and on the foederal and state conventions. By a Columbian patriot.; Sic transit gloria Americana. New York: Thomas Greenleaf, 1788.

198