Debate and Ratification
“It has been frequently remarked, that it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not, of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend, for their political constitutions, on accident and force.”
Federalist 1, Publius (Alexander Hamilton), 27 October 1787
          article
        
         
  
    Introduction to Out-of-doors Debate  
         
                         
   
  
    The Contributions of the Antifederalists  
         
                         
   
  
    Timeline of the Essential Antifederalists  
         
                         
   
  
    Introduction to the Federalist Papers  
         
                         
   
  
    The Federalist Papers: An Essay-by-summary  
         
                         
   
  
    Federalist-Antifederalist Issues  
         
                         
   
  
    The Six Stages of Ratification: Stage I  
         
                         
   
  
    The Six Stages of Ratification: Stage II  
         
                         
   
  
    The Six Stages of Ratification: Stage III  
         
                         
   
  
    The Six Stages of Ratification: Stage IV  
         
                         
   
  
    The Six Stages of Ratification: Stage V  
         
                         
   
  
    The Six Stages of Ratification: Stage VI