Liberty Fund Seminars: Liberty and the Constitution: The Virginia Ratifying Convention

Liberty and the Constitution: The Virginia Ratifying Convention

A Co-Sponsored Program of the Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University and Liberty Fund, Inc.

Richmond, Virginia

October 7-9, 2011

Reading List and Reading Packet

Download Entire Reading Packet

SESSION I: The Anti-Federalist Critique of the Constitution

• George Mason, “Objections to the Constitution, October 1787.” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (2 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 7-8 in Reader)
• “Centinel I, October 5, 1787,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (6 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 9-14 in Reader)
• “Federal Farmer I, October 8, 1787,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (5 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 15-19 in Reader)
• “Federal Farmer IV, October 12, 1787,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (2 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 20-21 in Reader)
• “Brutus I, October 18, 1787,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (7 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 22-28 in Reader)
• “Brutus II, November 1, 1787,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (4 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 29-32 in Reader)
• “Brutus III, November 17, 1787,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (4 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 33-36 in Reader)
• “Brutus V, December 13, 1787,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (4 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 37-40 in Reader)
• “Agrippa VII, December 18, 1787,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (2 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 41-42 in Reader)
• “Brutus XI, January 31, 1788,”Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (4 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 43-46 in Reader)
• “Brutus XV, March 20, 1788,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (4 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 47-50 in Reader)

SESSION II: The Federalist Defense of the Constitution, Part I

• James Wilson, “State House Speech, October 6, 1787.” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (2 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 52-53 in Reader)
• Carey, George W. and James McClellan, eds. The Federalist, Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, Inc., 2001.

Number 1, Alexander Hamilton’s “Introduction” (pages 1-4)

Number 9, Alexander Hamilton’s “The Utility of the Union as a Safeguard against Domestic Faction and Insurrection” (pages 37-41)

Number 10, James Madison’s “The same Subject continued” (pages 42-49)

Number 37, James Madison’s “Concerning the difficulties which the convention must have experienced in the formation of a proper plan” (pages 179-185)

Number 39, James Madison’s “The conformity of the plan to republican principles” (pages 193-199)

Number 45, James Madison’s “A further discussion of the supposed danger from the powers of the union, to the state governments” (pages 237-242)

Number 51, James Madison’s “The same subject continued, with the same view, and concluded” (pages 267-272). Page(s): 1-4, 37-41, 42-49, 179-185, 193-199, 237-242, 267-272. (Book)

SESSION III: The Federalist Defense of the Constitution, Part II

• Carey, George W. and James McClellan, eds. The Federalist, Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, Inc., 2001.

Number 55, James Madison’s “The same subject continued, in relation to the total number of the body” (pages 286-291)

Number 63, James Madison’s “A further view of the constitution of the senate in regard to the duration of the appointment of its members” (pages 325-332)

Number 71, Alexander Hamilton’s “The same view continued in regard to the duration of the office” (pages 369-373)

Number 72, Alexander Hamilton’s “The same view continued, in regard to the re-eligibility of the president” (pages 374-378)

Number 83, Alexander Hamilton’s “A further view of the judicial department, in relation to the trial by jury” (pages 430-442)

Number 85, Alexander Hamilton’s “Conclusion” (pages 452-458). (Book)

SESSION IV: Critical States in the Struggle over Ratification: Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New York

• James Wilson, “Remarks on the Pennsylvania Ratifying Convention, October 28, 1787,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (2 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 55-56 in Reader)
• James Wilson, “Remarks on the Pennsylvania Ratifying Convention, December 4, 1787,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (1 page from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Page 57 in Reader)
• John Smilie and Robert Whitehill, “Remarks on the Pennsylvania Ratifying Convention, November 28, 1787,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (3 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 58-60 in Reader)
• “The Dissent of the Minority of the Convention of Pennsylvania, December 18, 1787,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (2 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 61-62 in Reader)
• Tansill, Charles C. “Documents Illustrative of the Formation of the Union of American States: Ratification of the Constitution by the State of New York.” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed October 27, 2009). “Ratification of the Constitution by the State of New York” (9 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 78-80 in Reader)
• Elliot, Jonathan. The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, Second Edition, Volume II. Buffalo: William S. Hein & Co., Inc., 1996. selections from the Convention of Massachusetts, January 1788: Tuesday, January 15, 1788 (pages 6-11), Tuesday, January 22, 1788 (pages 70-76), Wednesday, January 23, 1788 (pages 76-79) and Thursday, January 31, 1788 (pages 122-125 and 130-133). (Pages 63-77 in Reader)
• Tansill, Charles C. “Documents Illustrative of the Formation of the Union of American States: Ratification of the Constitution by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. http://teachingamericanhistory.org/ratification/tansill/ratification-massachusetts.html (accessed October 27, 2009). “Ratification of the Constitution by the State of Massachusetts” (3 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org website). (Pages 78-80 in Reader)
• Tansill, Charles C. “Documents Illustrative of the Formation of the Union of American States: Ratification of the Constitution by the State of New York.” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. http://teachingamericanhistory.org/ratification/tansill/ratification-newyork.html (accessed October 27, 2009). “Ratification of the Constitution by the State of New York” (9 pages online from TeachingAmericanHistory.org website). (Pages 81-89 in Reader)

SESSION V: The Struggle Over Ratification: Virginia

• Elliot, Jonathan. The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution, Second Edition, Volume III. Buffalo: William S. Hein & Co., Inc., 1996. selections from the Convention of Virginia, June 1788: Friday, June 16, 1788 (pages 93-97), Saturday, June 21, 1788 (pages 570-576), and Tuesday, June 24, 1788 (pages 586-596 and 652-663). (Pages 91-114 in Reader)

SESSION VI: The Development of the Bill of Rights

• Thomas Jefferson, “Letter to James Madison, December 20, 1787,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (1 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Page 116 in Reader)
• James Madison, “Letter to Thomas Jefferson, April 22, 1788″, Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (1 page from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Page 117 in Reader)
• James Madison, “Letter to Thomas Jefferson, July 24, 1788″, Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (1 page from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 118 in Reader)
• Thomas Jefferson, “Letter to James Madison, July 31, 1788,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (1 page from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Page 119 in Reader)
• James Madison, “Letter to Thomas Jefferson, October 17, 1788″, Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (3 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 120-122 in Reader)
• James Madison, “Letter to Thomas Jefferson, December 8, 1788,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (2 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 123-124 in Reader)
• Thomas Jefferson, “Letter to James Madison, March 15, 1789,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (2 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Page 125-126 in Reader)
• James Madison, “Speech on Amendments to the Constitution, June 8, 1789,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (9 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Page 127-135 in Reader)
• “Report of the House Select Committee, July 28, 1789,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (3 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 136-138 in Reader)
• “House Debates Select Committee Report, August 13-24, 1789 (Selections),” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (4 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 139-142 in Reader)
• “House Approves Seventeen Amendments, August 24, 1789,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (3 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 142-145 in Reader)
• “First Congress Approves Twelve Amendments, September 25, 1789,” Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs at Ashland University. (accessed April 5, 2010). (2 pages from TeachingAmericanHistory.org). (Pages 146-147 in Reader)