The Constitution Goes Before the Country. Summary and Analysis

With the business of the Convention completed, Bowen turns to the matter of ratification. This marks the fourth general section of the book.

As soon as copies are made available, newspapers across the land publish the proposed Constitution in its entirety. The reaction various, but all find it shocking, Bowen states. The first impression many have is that it is based on the British system in that it seemingly consolidates the independent states into an empire.

Supporters of the Constitution immediately begin publishing essays in several newspapers in favor of the new plan. The most noteworthy of these were written by Madison, Hamilton and John Jay and are signed anonymously as PUBLIUS. Collectively, these essays, which called for a strong national government, came to be known as the Federalist Papers.

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