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Collection Reference Number GLC05638
From Archive Folder Documents Relating to 1788 
Title George Washington to Henry Knox with congratulations on acceptance of the Constitution by Massachusetts
Date 3 March 1788
Author Washington, George (1732-1799)  
Recipient Knox, Henry  
Document Type Correspondence
Content Description Severely faded on p. 1 right margin (from water damage). Also, opposition in remaining states and predicting revolution in France. Accompanied by provenance note of John F. Smith. This document had been removed from Gen. Knox's papers by his granddaughter in the nineteenth century.
Subjects President  US Constitution  Ratification  Government and Civics  French Revolution  France  Global History and Civics  Foreign Affairs  Federalists  
People Washington, George (1732-1799)  Knox, Henry (1750-1806)  
Place written Mount Vernon
Theme Government & Politics; Creating a New Government; The Presidency
Sub-collection The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Additional Information During the ratification debates, the Constitution's proponents stressed the document's democratic and republican character. Even though the framers had expressed concern during their deliberations over the dangers of democracy and demagoguery, they knew that ratification would fail if the new plan of government was perceived as "aristocratic." In the following letter to Henry Knox, his Revolutionary war comrade-in-arms, George Washington discusses the ratification debates. Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
Copyright The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
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