2 ways to compare Anti-Federalists and Federalists
1) Federalists
Favored ratification of the Constitution
Wanted a strong, central government
Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, John Adams, John Jay, James Madison
Mostly bankers, lawyers, and merchants were federalists and were better able to
communicate with one another since they lived in urban areas
Attended Constitutional Convention and knew about all of the discussions that had taken
place
Organized quickly after Constitutional Convention to make sure Federalists were elected as
delegates to each state's ratifying convention
Published a series of 85 essays known as the Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers were in defense of the Constitution and were printed in New York
newspapers as well as other papers throughout the states
Believed Constitution was needed to preserve order and secure liberties
Believed a bill of rights was not needed because the Constitution itself limited the
government's powers. They feared that creating a list of rights might lead to other dangers
and it would be impossible to list every right.
2) Anti Federalists
Opposed ratification of the Constitution
Wanted a less powerful central government
George Mason, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Samuel Adams
At a disadvantage since discussion during convention were closed to the public
Believed the framers of the Constitution were an elitist group (aristocratic)
The Anti-Federalists stood for the status quo (or the ways things were at the time)
Believed the proposed Congress had too few representing far too many people
New Constitution would create an overly powerful central government that would limit
personal freedoms (they wanted a guarantee of protection for personal freedoms)
Lacked a bill of rights (without it, they believed, a strong national government might take
away the political rights won during the Revolution
Published the Anti-Federalist Papers (were replies to the Federalist Papers)
Believed personal liberty was only safe in small societies governed by either a direct
democracy or by a large legislature with small districts (i.e. Local Control)
ANTIFEDERALISTS VS FEDERALISTS
Antifederalist objections to the Constitution
Federalist defenses of the Constitution
Antifederalists -- states' rights advocates, backcountry
farmers, poor farmers, the ill-educated and illiterate,
debtors.
Federalists -- Well educated and propertied
class. Most lived in settled areas along the
seaboard.
In general, the poorer classes of society.
Sam Adams, Patrick Henry
John Adams, Washington, Franklin, Hamilton
Ratification Positions:
Ratification Positions:
1. Articles of Confederation were a good plan.
1. Articles of Confederation were weak and
ineffective.
2. Opposed strong central government. Opposed a
standing army and a 10 square mile federal stronghold
(later District of Columbia).
2. National government needed to be strong in
order to function. Powers in foreign policy
needed to be strengthened while excesses at
home needed to be controlled.
3. Strong national government needed to control
uncooperative states.
3. Strong national government threatened state
power.
4. Strong national government threatened rights of the
common people. Constitution was created by
aristocratic elements. Suspected a sinister plot to
suppress liberty of the masses.
5. Constitution favored wealthy men and preserved
their power. Opposed the dropping of annual
elections for representatives.
6. Constitution lacked a bill of rights. State
governments already had bills of rights but they might
be overridden by the Constitution.
7. Argued against 2/3 ratification plan. Articles of
Confederation required unanimous consent.
4. Men of experience and talent should govern
the nation. "Mobocracy" threatened the security
of life and property.
5. National government would protect the rights
of the people.
6. Constitution and state governments protected
individual freedoms without bill of rights. Since
people could take back delegated power to the
gov’t, there was no risk that the national gov’t
would overreach.
7. In favor of establishing the Constitution with
almost any means possible.
8. Opposed omitting any reference to God.
8. More sympathetic to separation of church and
state.