Federalist vs. AntiFederalist Debate
Constitutional Convention
• Constitution completed in September 1787
• After realizing the failure of a unanimous vote
under the Articles Constitution 9 of 13 states
needed to ratify the Constitution
• Constitutional Conventions were held in each
state
• People were completely taken aback by a new
documents-expecting the Articles of
Confederation
Two Camps of opinion
• Camp 1- Federalists-Supported
Constitution as is.
• Federal Government needs more power – AoC
FAIL
• States need to lose some sovereignty
• Federal power is defined and limited
• According to Madison a large republic better
protects liberty than a small one.
Two Camps of opinion
• Anti-Federalists- Opposed to the
Constitution
• Federal government has too much power
• All “important” powers belong to the Federal
Government
• States should have more power as they will be
more accountable to the governed
• No guarantee of rights
Federalist Papers Summary
• Federalist #1
• Outline/Intro
• Federalist #10
• faction
• biggest cause of faction is unequal distribution of power
• Federalist #51
• separation of power/checks and balances
• Federalist #78
• independent judiciary
Will it be ratified?
• Each side wrote papers to support their position
• States don’t want to ratify the Constitution without a Bill of Rights
• Virginia and New York drag their heels, which would have sunk the whole
operation
• Framers thought they had created limited government and thus didn’t need
a Bill of Rights
• Finally, a Bill of Rights is promised.
• In 1789
• Electoral College meets
• GW and JA take office
• NC ratifies
• RI ratifies in 1790
• Bill of Rights ratified by 1791.
Federalist and Anti-federalist
Papers
• Famous Feds:
• Alexander Hamilton: Publius
• James Madison: Publius
• John Jay: Publius
• Famous Anti-Feds
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Robert Yates: Brutus
Patrick Henry: Senex?
Richard Henry Lee: Federal Farmer
Melancton Smith: A Plebian?
George Mason: Centinel
Elbridge Gerry: Brutus