Federalists and the Antifederalists

 

     Those in favor of the Constitution as written were called Federalists.  They believed that a strong central government was needed.  Under such a government, they thought, the new nation would grow wealthier, more stable, and more respected.

      Many of the Federalists were well-to-do business leaders, landowners, and professionals.  Three of their leaders – Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay – wrote a number of newspaper articles.  In these articles, later published together as The Federalist, the authors urged that the Constitution be ratified.

    Opponents of the Constitution were called Anti-Federalists.  They feared a strong central government.  Instead, they preferred to leave most powers in the hands of the states.  If there were going to be a new constitution, they said, then it should state clearly that personal freedoms were to be protected.

      Anti-Federalists won the support of many poorer Americans, including farmers, laborers, and debtors.  Some people of wealth and high social position also were Anti-Federalists.  Among the Anti-Federalist leaders, Patrick Henry, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams stood out.  These men were articulate and forceful in criticizing the Constitution.

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     One of the great debates in American history was over the ratification of the Constitution in 1787-1788. Those who supported the Constitution and a stronger national republic were known as Federalists. Those who opposed the ratification of the Constitution in favor of small localized government were known as Anti-Federalists. Both the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists were concerned with the preservation of liberty, however, they disagreed over whether or not a strong national government would preserve or eventually destroy the liberty of the American people.

      The Anti-Federalists argued against the expansion of national power. They favored small localized governments with limited national authority as was exercised under the Articles of Confederation. They generally believed a republican government was only possible on the state level and would not work on the national level. Therefore, only a confederacy of the individual states could protect the nation’s liberty and freedom. Another, and perhaps their most well-known concern, was over the lack of a bill of rights. Most Anti-Federalists feared that without a bill of rights, the Constitution would not be able to sufficiently protect the rights of individuals and the states. Perhaps the strongest voice for this concern was that of George Mason. He believed that state bills of right would be overridden by the new constitution, and not stand as adequate protections for citizens’ rights. It was this concern that ultimately led to the passing of the bill of rights as a condition for ratification in New York, Virginia, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.

      The Federalists, primarily led by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, believed that establishing a large national government was not only possible, but necessary to “create a more perfect union” by improving the relationship among the states. Until this point, the common belief was that a republic could only function efficiently it was small and localized. The Federalists challenged this belief and claimed that a strong national republic would better preserve the individual liberties of the people. By extending the sphere of the republic, individual and minority rights would be better protected from infringement by a majority. The federalists also wanted to preserve the sovereignty and structure of the states. To do so, they advocated for a federal government with specific, delegated powers. Any power not given to the federal government would be a power held by the people and the states. Ultimately, their goal was to preserve the principle of government by consent. By building a government upon a foundation of popular sovereignty, without sacrificing the sovereignty of the states, legitimacy of the new government could be secured.

 

1) If you could say the Federalists represented the voice of a social/ economic class (upper class, middle class, the working class), which would they represent?

 2) If you could say the Anti- Federalists represented the voice of a social/ economic class (upper class, middle class, the working class), which would they represent?

 3) Where did the Anti-Federalists want most of governing power to remain or remain?

 4) What did the Federalists and Anti-Federalists agree on?

 5) What did the Federalists and Anti-Federalists disagree on?

 6) What type of change to the Constitution did the Anti-Federalists force?