The Ratification Debates: The U.S. Constitution

by Wendy McElroy, Walter Cronkite (Narrator)

In the fall of 1787, each of the thirteen states assembled special conventions to consider ratification of a proposed Constitution of the United States. Without ratification by nine conventions, the Constitution would America would be a league of states, not one nation. Some states, such as Delaware and Georgia, quickly and unanimously ratified. Other states, such as Virginia and New York, agonized. Two states, North Carolina and Rhode Island, would not ratify at all without a bill of rights. Indeed, Rhode Island would not approve the Constitution until economic sanctions had been imposed against her. The Constitution was a controversial document, which was passionately debated by the best minds in the land.

Genres: History

Audio CD

First published May 1, 2006

About the author

Wendy McElroy is a Canadian individualist feminist and anarcho-capitalist.

Among feminists, she identifies herself as being sex-positive: defending the availability of pornography and condemning anti-pornography feminism campaigns. She has also voiced criticism of sexual harassment policies, particularly the zero-tolerance policies common to grade schools, which she considers to be "far too broad and vague" and lacking the sound research necessary to guide responsible policy-making decisions.

In explaining her position in regard to capitalism, she says she has a "marked personal preference for capitalism as the most productive, fair and sensible economic system on the face of the earth," but also recognizes that the free market permits other kinds of systems as well. She says what she wants for society is "not necessarily a capitalistic arrangement but a free market system in which everyone can make the peaceful choices they wish with their own bodies and labor." Therefore, she does not call herself a capitalist but someone for a "free market."

(This description is taken from Wikipedia.)

Reviews

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a more detailed book about the ratifications debates. I didn't hear any errors in this summary, but as with any summary of historical events, it leaves some things out and perhaps will give the wrong impression. The narration attempts to fix that problem by simply telling the listener what is happening in the background. I don't think this presentation was entirely successful.

I liked that the presentation did emphasize how the Federalists tried to rush ratification because that took away the time the anti-Federalists needed to organize opposition. The anti-Federalists were mostly in the rural areas so it took time to get to other anti-Federalists and to reach the more populated area to convince them to side with them. They also didn't have a lot of money as compare to the Federalists.

Over all, I liked this summary. I might read it again.

[Thara Tenney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information, however I feel like this could have been done better.