Creating the United States

{ object_type: 'Exhibit Item',embed_type: 'image',embed_detail: 'http://myloc.gov/_assets/Exhibitions/creatingtheus/BillofRights/ForgingaFederalGovernment/Assets/us0078_04_th125.jpg',embed_alt: 'Fears of a Second Constitutional Convention',thumbnail: {url: 'http://myloc.gov/_assets/Exhibitions/creatingtheus/BillofRights/ForgingaFederalGovernment/Assets/us0078_04_th125.jpg',alt: 'Fears of a Second Constitutional Convention',height: '66',width: '125'} }

See Silverlight version of this item » About this item        

Nationalists, such as James Madison and George Washington, were wary of calls from state ratifying conventions for a second national constitutional convention. They feared that a new convention would result in changes to the Constitution that would weaken a federal government or, worse, create a deadlock that would make establishing the federal government impossible. Ultimately, Madison and Washington endorsed mild constitutional amendments as a way of avoiding structural changes to the federal government.

(Transcription)

“It is equally certain that there are others, who urge a Second Convention . . .”


Nationalists, such as James Madison and George Washington, were wary of calls from state ratifying conventions for a second national constitutional convention. They feared that a new convention would result in changes to the Constitution that would weaken a federal government or, worse, create a deadlock that would make establishing the federal government impossible. Ultimately, Madison and Washington endorsed mild constitutional amendments as a way of avoiding structural changes to the federal government.