Women’s rights
The U.S. Constitution was the work of a committee of many individuals with
different ideas. Its existence is credited to compromise. Despite compromise its
ratification was never certain. James Madison (left image) argued for ratification
in Federalist Paper No. 10. Patrick Henry (center image) and George Mason (right
image) argued against ratification in Virginia. Read these works related to
ratification and use them, plus those sources you find on your own, to write an
argumentative essay.
1. Should the Constitution have been ratified? Use this question to develop your
thesis statement. Your thesis answers this question. One paragraph.
2. Use evidence from the primary sources provided and a secondary source of your
choosing to support your thesis. 4-5 paragraphs.
3. Finally, write your warrant (conclusion). Explain why your evidence supports
your thesis. One paragraph.
• Sources: These should be cited as an article on a website.
o James Madison: Federalist Paper No. 10
o Patrick Henry and George Mason: Arguments against Ratification
