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Federal Procession of 1788

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65:. Platt cited the remarkable enthusiasm of the citizenry as a reason why the parade could no longer be delayed until New York's ratification: "The day having been more than once postponed in the interesting hope that this state, then in its convention, would likewise accede to the Union, the Committee of Arrangements found it impossible any longer to oppose this patriotic ardor of their fellow citizens." The procession was originally planned for 10 July, but then was delayed until 22 July. It was delayed again until 23 July, "in order to give the Jews an opportunity to join the festivals, the 22nd being one of their holidays." By the time of New York's parade, which was delayed until 23 July 1788, 407: 377: 87:
Congress without power, with 13 heads, looking different ways; shewing the clashing interests of the States in Union The ten men well dressed, representing the ten states, supporting the head of a man, representing the New Constitution united in a Federal Head." Presumably, the "old Constitution" refers to the
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As this splendid, novel and interesting exhibition moved along, an unexpected silence reigned throughout the city, which gave a solemnity to the whole transaction suited to the singular importance of its cause. No noise was heard but the deep rumbling of carriage wheels, with the necessary salutes
162:: "A frigate of thirty-two guns, twenty-seven feet keel, and ten feet beam, with galleries and everything complete and in proportion, both in hull and rigging; manned with upwards of thirty seamen and marines, in their different uniforms; Commanded by Commodore Nicholson, and drawn by ten horses." 86:
It is evident from Platt's comprehensive account of the procession that there were sentiments of disappointment regarding the states which had not yet ratified the Constitution. In the Eighth Division, for example, there was "The old Constitution, represented by the naked body of a man, denoting
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Historian Whitfield J. Bell, Jr., noted that, prior to the Federal Processions in July, many of the celebrations to mark each states' ratification were "official, small, almost sedate; the citizens witnessed them but did not participate."
103:. The parade was marshalled into ten divisions, to honor the ten states who had at that point ratified the constitution, and each division was preceded by a white flag. The divisions were as follows, as described in Platt's account: 146:'s cup made of sugar" with an inscription of 'the Federal Confectioner' "round the goblet's edge"); stone masons; brick layers; painters; cabinet makers and chair makers; drum makers; upholsterers; and civil engineers. 61:, ardent supporters of the Constitution, may have been eager to celebrate ratification in hopes that public "enthusiasm shown on the day of the parade would influence the antis at Poughkeepsie," referring to the 36:
was the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, on 21 June 1788, thus completing sufficient ratification for the Constitution's consummation. Celebrations climaxed with the Federal Processions of July 1788.
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Platt noted that the procession contained nearly 5,000 people and stretched to over a mile and a half. Even with this number of people, and with crowds lining the streets, Platt noted this:
83:, White Hall-street, Great Dock-street, are requested to sweep and water the respective streets on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, for the accommodation of the Federal Procession." 193:
Following the procession, a banquet was held, once again divided into 10 long tables to represent the ratifying states. Thirteen toasts were made at the banquet, as quoted from Platt:
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In his published account of the procession, Platt noted that the parade began at around 10:00am at the sound of 13 guns, fired from the federal ship
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had also ratified, bringing the total number of states to ten; New York's parade was thus divided into ten divisions to honor those states.
168:: Cart men; "Horse doctors"; "Mathematical Instrument makers"; carvers and engravers; copper, gold, and silver smiths; potters and pewters. 189:
and signals. A glad serenity enlivened every countenance, while the joyous expectation of national prosperity triumphed in every bosom.
432: 335:. Jensen, Merrill., Kaminski, John P., Saladino, Gaspare J. Madison: Wisconsin Historical Society Press. 2005. p. 1585. 309: 292: 57:, seat of New York's ratification convention, and reached New York City on 25 June 1788. Some historians have noted that 114:"in ancient dress" astride a horse; farmers; "a new invented threshing machine"; a band; tailors; bakers; and brewers. 50: 340: 20:(also called the "Grand Federal Processions") were large municipal celebrations of the ratification of the 314: 296: 435:," Pop Culture and Ratification document collection, Center for the Study of the American Constitution. 364: 21: 263: 207:
The Convention of the State of New-York; may they soon add an eleventh pillar to the Federal Edifice.
88: 53:, the Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements. News of New Hampshire's ratification was sent to 54: 111: 80: 8: 358: 329: 346: 336: 210: 58: 62: 223: 441: 152:: Black smiths; "Ship Joiners" and "Boat Builders"; sail makers; and riggers. 79:
asking for citizens to clean the streets in preparation: "The inhabitants of
33: 29: 264:"The Federal Processions of 1788 and the Origins of American Civil Religion" 350: 235:
The memory of those heroes who have fallen in defence of American Liberty.
25: 136:: Carpenters; furriers; hatters; hair dressers; and artificial florists. 127: 32:, though other types of celebrations took place throughout the states. 72:
On July 22, the day before the march, Platt put an advertisement in
412: 382: 66: 143: 331:
The documentary history of the ratification of the constitution
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The patriotic framers of the present national Constitution.
174:: Lawyers; the Philological Society; merchants and traders. 312:, The New-York Historical Society Quarterly, v.49 no.1, 142:: White smiths; cutlers; confectioners (who carried a " 238:
Success of agriculture, manufactures and the sciences.
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Dinner being ended, the following toasts were drank--
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The States which have ratified the New Constitution.
408:"Federal Procession, In Honor of the Constitution" 328: 439: 293:"The Federal Procession in the City of New York" 44: 49:New York's Federal Procession was organized by 448:Ratification of the United States Constitution 244:The Day; May the Union of States be perpetual. 403: 401: 399: 397: 395: 110:: "Foresters with axes;" a man dressed as 288: 286: 284: 282: 280: 278: 256: 94: 392: 440: 275: 371: 302: 13: 241:May trade and navigation flourish. 14: 459: 426: 310:"The Federal Processions of 1788" 180:: Physicians and various others. 433:Celebrations, Toasts, and Riots 321: 229:The friendly powers in Europe. 1: 249: 45:New York's Federal Procession 416:. Retrieved on 3 March 2017. 386:. Retrieved on 3 March 2017. 318:. Retrieved on 3 March 2017. 299:. Retrieved on 3 March 2017. 272:. Retrieved on 3 March 2017. 7: 315:New-York Historical Society 297:New-York Historical Society 216:His Most Christian Majesty. 18:Federal Processions of 1788 10: 464: 222:The States General of the 22:United States Constitution 89:Articles of Confederation 418:(subscription required) 388:(subscription required) 308:Whitfield J. Bell, Jr. 120:: Coopers and butchers. 363:: CS1 maint: others ( 247: 191: 219:His Catholic Majesty. 195: 186: 160:Federal Ship Hamilton 95:Day of the Procession 378:"Federal Procession" 112:Christopher Columbus 24:that took place in 224:United Netherlands 211:General Washington 201:The United States. 262:Jürgen Heideking. 455: 420: 419: 405: 390: 389: 375: 369: 368: 362: 354: 334: 325: 319: 306: 300: 290: 273: 260: 156:Seventh Division 63:Anti-Federalists 463: 462: 458: 457: 456: 454: 453: 452: 438: 437: 429: 424: 423: 417: 406: 393: 387: 376: 372: 356: 355: 343: 327: 326: 322: 307: 303: 291: 276: 261: 257: 252: 166:Eighth Division 134:Fourth Division 118:Second Division 97: 76:New-York Packet 47: 12: 11: 5: 461: 451: 450: 428: 427:External links 425: 422: 421: 391: 370: 341: 320: 301: 274: 254: 253: 251: 248: 246: 245: 242: 239: 236: 233: 230: 227: 220: 217: 214: 208: 205: 202: 182: 181: 178:Tenth Division 175: 172:Ninth Division 169: 163: 153: 150:Sixth Division 147: 140:Fifth Division 137: 131: 124:Third Division 121: 115: 108:First Division 96: 93: 46: 43: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 460: 449: 446: 445: 443: 436: 434: 415: 414: 409: 404: 402: 400: 398: 396: 385: 384: 379: 374: 366: 360: 352: 348: 344: 338: 333: 332: 324: 317: 316: 311: 305: 298: 294: 289: 287: 285: 283: 281: 279: 271: 270: 265: 259: 255: 243: 240: 237: 234: 231: 228: 225: 221: 218: 215: 212: 209: 206: 203: 200: 199: 198: 194: 190: 185: 179: 176: 173: 170: 167: 164: 161: 157: 154: 151: 148: 145: 141: 138: 135: 132: 129: 125: 122: 119: 116: 113: 109: 106: 105: 104: 102: 92: 90: 84: 82: 78: 77: 70: 68: 64: 60: 56: 52: 51:Richard Platt 42: 38: 35: 34:New Hampshire 31: 30:New York City 27: 23: 19: 430: 411: 381: 373: 330: 323: 313: 304: 267: 258: 196: 192: 187: 183: 177: 171: 165: 159: 155: 149: 139: 133: 123: 117: 107: 100: 98: 85: 75: 71: 55:Poughkeepsie 48: 39: 26:Philadelphia 17: 15: 128:Cordwainers 59:Federalists 342:0870201530 250:References 359:cite book 81:Broad-way 442:Category 413:NewsBank 383:NewsBank 101:Hamilton 67:Virginia 351:1365137 144:Bacchus 349:  339:  158:: The 269:JSTOR 365:link 347:OCLC 337:ISBN 74:the 28:and 16:The 91:. 444:: 410:, 394:^ 380:, 361:}} 357:{{ 345:. 295:, 277:^ 266:, 126:: 431:" 367:) 353:. 226:. 213:. 130:.

Index

United States Constitution
Philadelphia
New York City
New Hampshire
Richard Platt
Poughkeepsie
Federalists
Anti-Federalists
Virginia
the New-York Packet
Broad-way
Articles of Confederation
Christopher Columbus
Cordwainers
Bacchus
General Washington
United Netherlands
"The Federal Processions of 1788 and the Origins of American Civil Religion"
JSTOR






"The Federal Procession in the City of New York"
New-York Historical Society
"The Federal Processions of 1788"
New-York Historical Society
The documentary history of the ratification of the constitution

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