| Debates Over the Constitution
Not every state approved of the Constitution. The
supporters of the Constitution were known as the Federalists;
they believed it could protect the rights of all. The opponents
of the Constitution were known as anti-federalists; they felt
that the federal government would weaken the power of the
states. The Constitution was finally approved by two-thirds of
the states.
Adding a Bill of Rights
George Mason refused to sign the Constitution because it did
not include a bill of rights, which would describe the basic rights
of people. In 1791 the Bill of Rights was added to the
Constitution as amendments. George Washington was elected
President and led the first government under the Constitution.
A Cabinet was set up by the President to help run the
government. It included Alexander Hamilton as the Secretary
of the Treasury, Thomas Jefferson as the Secretary of State,
and Henry Knox as the Secretary of War.
The First Political Parties
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton had opposing
views on how the country's government should be run. These
views led to the first political parties. Hamilton supporters
organized the Federalist Party, and believed in a strong central
government. Jefferson supporters formed the Democratic-
Republican Party, and felt that the central government should
have less power. After serving two four-year terms as
President, Washington left office in 1797. |
