Anti Federalism Dbq

The anti federalists were mainly apprehensive about the Constitution, because they favored strong state governments and felt that the Constitution

Federalist’s ideas about functions of the central government encompassed a national appeal that influenced adoption of the constitution. They convinced the delegates that a strong national government was capable of ensuring equitable resource sharing. By quoting the gaps in the Articles of Confederation, the Federalists expressed the concern that passing the constitution would address the highlighted inefficacies to make American a sustainable nation. Also, Federalists were open to new ideas including the consideration of the bill of rights. Contrariwise, the Antifederalists did not prosper in the mission to convince the delegates to oppose the constitution that provided supreme powers to the national government (Hamilton, Madison and Jay 67).

The Constitution was based on Federalist ideas of a strong central government with Hamilton’s economic plan of a national bank and high tariffs.. However, anti-federalist’s leaders, Jefferson and Madison, believed that Hamilton’s economic plan will benefits the affluents. As a result, the anti-federalist disapprove the constitution since it damages their agriculture’s

It was no longer about states or abroad country, but rather a contract between all Americans under 1 nation. In a meantime, the Federalist Papers provided strong and rational justifications in that every decision should made by the Constitutional Convention, and also persuaded Americans that by arranging less power in people’s hands, the federal government could have a higher chance to protect people. On the other hand, the Anti-Federalist delegates argued that the government gave too much power to the federal government, while seizing too much power away from local and state governments. There were three kinds of Anti-Federalists.

If you had been someone living during the ratification debate, what position would you have supported? Why? I most likely would have supported the anti-federalists. Ever since the end of the revolutionary war, the common person would not want another war. The Articles of Confederation left the United States susceptible to a foreign invasion, so we would want a better sense of security.

The Anti-Federalist who were strongly opposed to the Constitution felt the document

The Anti-federalist had apprehensions about the potential loss of sovereignty through the power the national government was given in the proposed Constitution; along with the effects of a loss to the nation and it's people. The Anti-federalist belief was that through state sovereignty, the needed restraints would keep the national government from falling into total control of a federal government, protecting the

Both sides had their own reasons to believe to accept or decline the offer. Anti-Federalist believed that some poor would never get into government, there was no liberty in press, the government had too much power, and most of the rights they fought for in the war isn’t present in the constitution (life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness). The Federals said that the Constitution was a new protecting, efficient federal government for the many current problems, the complaints of the farmers, the

During the time before the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, the country was split into two factions. The Federalists, who drafted the Constitution, thought that the limited power of state government and limited individual rights to the people was the best form of government. And the Anti-Federalist, who believed that the strong federal government, as drafted in the Constitution,would strip people of their personal liberties and state governments of their sovereignty. Although the Constitution was ratified, if it wasn’t for compromises from both sides we might still be governed by the Articles of Confederation.

The controversies over the ratification of the Constitution was taxation, too much power to the President, trading, and the lack of Bill of Rights. There were people who agreed to ratify the Constitution the way it is, which were called federalists. Federalists reasoned that Americans should ratify the Constitution because Americans are allowed to ask for additional amendments after they ratify the Constitution. The ability to be able to request additional amendments after supported the Federalist’s point of view because the Anti-federalists may ask for further amendments after which could happen after they ratify the Constitution.

Central government did not have the power the federalists wish it would have had under the Articles. Due to the constitution, the central government was too strong in the eyes of the anti-federalists. The Constitution didn’t provide any power for the states and individual freedom. Anti-federalists were scared that if a president was reelected, he would act more like a king. Many people's ideas contributed on the Debate Over the

They felt the Constitution would create a system of federalism, a system in which the national government holds significant power, but the smaller political subdivisions also hold significant power. They felt the country needed a strong central government so that it didn’t fall apart. The Ant-Federalists were on the opposing side, they felt the Constitution granted the government too much power. They also felt there wasn’t enough protection of their right with an absent Bill of Rights. Another concern of the Anti-Federalists mainly came from the lower classes, from their standpoint they thought the wealthy class would be in main control and gain the most benefits from the ratification of this document.

The Anti-Federalist’s view of government about having a federal government where the states have more power rather than to have a central government was justified. The Anti-federalists wanted to ensure the protection of individual rights along with allowing the states to have the role of checking and balancing each other. Although their inspiration was the Articles of Confederation, their main goal was to make a few adjustments along with adding a Bill of Rights to secure the citizens’ rights for many generations to come. Federalists, people who supported the Constitution, sided with having a central government. They had the determination to have the Constitution ratified.

What problems would a Federalist have had with the articles of confederation and constitutional convention? A federalist (someone who believes in coexisting and strong federal and state governments) (Morone and Kersh 59) wouldn’t have liked the articles. This is mostly due to its structure (Morone and Kersh 53). Mainly, states had more influence than the federal government ("Independence and the Articles of Confederation."). In one case, because of one state, a tax couldn’t be raised (Morone and Kersh 54).

Hence Federalists came up with the Bill of Rights as a way to get the Constitution ratified and for people to really see a needed change. The Bill Of Rights which lists specific prohibitions on governmental power, lead the Anti-Federalists to be less fearful of the new Constitution . This guaranteed that the people would still remain to have rights, but the strong central government that the country needed would have to be approved. The 1804 Map of the nation shows that even after the ratification of the United States Constitution there still continued to be “commotion” and dispute in the country.(Document 8) George Washington stated that the people should have a say in the nation and government and everything should not be left to the government to decide.(Document 3) Although George Washington was a Federalist many believed he showed a point of view that seemed to be Anti-Federalists. Many believed that The Bill of Rights needed to be changed and modified and a new document’s time to come into place.