The Federal Edifice, from the Massachusetts Centinel

Sea of Liberty  |  image
Description

This image is a political cartoon published during the debate over the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. It reflects the fact that by August 1788 eleven of the 13 states had ratified the document. Each state represents a “pillar” of the great “federal edifice” making up the nation. The tilted pillars show that North Carolina and Rhode Island had not yet ratified.


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