According to the map “Ratification of the Federal Constitution, 1787-1790,” a large amount of the states had a federalist majority, meaning that they supported the Constitution. Most of the Federalists were rich men who were large landowners, judges, lawyers, leading clergymen and merchants. Led by Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, James Madison, and George Washington, federalists “believed the national government was too wear under the Articles of Confederation” and wanted a strong federal government (Document 3). However, the antifederalists disagreed with the Constitution. They “feared strong national government would lead to tyranny” and wanted strong state governments (Document 3). Led by Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, and Patrick Henry, the antifederalists were mainly supported by small farmers, small landowners, and
Federalists were led by many famous names including Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, George Washington, and The Father of the Constitution, James Madison (Document 3). Federalists can state that the Constitution is better seeing that events like Shays’ Rebellion would not have happened since the federal government could levy taxes and generate revenue. There were many angry farmers, led by Daniel Shays, demanding compensation for their service during the Revolutionary War. However, since the Articles of Confederation stated that the federal government would not be able to levy taxes and pay the veterans. At the same time, the state of Massachusetts was taxing farmers that had no money after fighting in a war for at least a year, posing the threat of losing their property. Obviously learning from previous mistakes, in a letter to George Washington, James Madison said that the national government should have the authority to control any situation that involves a powerful, unified decision “such as the regulation of trade, including the right of taxing both exports and imports…” (Document
The Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison to persuade the people to accept this document that gave the government more power. These papers summarized the need for a stronger central government. While there were others who supported this idea, there were others who feared a stronger central government. These men wrote the Anti-Federalist Papers, documents that were the complete opposite of Federalist views that called for less government than that of the states. A big issue was a decision of whether to use a judiciary system, or
In an effort to promote the constitution and gain support of the states, ultimately, to obtain the required ratification, the Federalists submitted essays to several New York papers; these submissions were known as the Federalist Papers. The tenth and most famous essay, out of eighty-five essays printed, Federalist Number Ten, was written by James Madison, not only to explain and defend the Constitution, but to address the concerns of the opposing side – Anti-Federalists believed that the Constitution allowed the government too much power and that the overbearing government would infringe on the liberties or rights of the citizens. Madison asserted in Federalist Number Ten that having a large government ensures the rights and
The Federalist Party was the United States’s first political party that consisted of: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, George Washington, and John Adams, additionally known as the "federalists." These Federalists, predominantly led by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, believed that establishing a large national government was necessary to “create a more perfect union”. Thus, this idea resulted in their decision to construct a document to justify government;The Constitution. In order for the Constitution to be ratified, it needed approval from nine of thirteen states. The Federalists supported the Constitution, while another party called, the Anti-Federalists, opposed the Constitution. These Anti-Federalists disagreed
S. government did not stop after he helped write the Constitution. He also helped get it ratified. In order to have it be put into action it needed 9 out of the 13 states to agree on it. Unfortunately for Madison a few of the states did not agree with its policies. They were known as the Anti-Federalists and Constitution supporters were Federalists. This sparked the ratification debate in which the Anti-Federalists expressed their concerns. They felt that the Federal government would gain too much power. To ease their concerns the Federalists, including Madison, promised that if the Anti-Federalists ratified the Constitution all of their worries would be addressed later on. Madison and others also wrote the Federalist papers which proved their stance as Federalists. These papers appeared under anonymous names in New York newspapers. Madison's tactics proved effective when the Constitution was signed in 1787 and passed in
Anti-Federalist (West). Cognizant of the sensitivity of the US political situation at that time, Alexander Hamilton led the Federalist Party, initially in secrecy, to promote the ratification of a new Constitution. Together with John Jay and James Madison, under pseudonym Publius, a series of 85 essays known as "Federalist Papers" were published in The Independent Journal, The New York Packet, and The Daily Advertiser. The papers aimed to promote the merits of the Constitution. They (in particular Federalist Paper No. 84) also argued against the need for the Bill of Right as being restrictive (Constitutionfacts.com,
These individuals believed that a federal government with the ability to raise taxes, support an army, and regulate trade between the states, as well as settle interstate disputes, would be good for the nation and assist the country in becoming a successful, competitive nation. The Federalists believed strongly that a powerful federal government was crucial to the continued existence of the country and its ability to develop into a country of merit. As mentioned in Federalist Paper XV, “It must in truth be acknowledged that… they in general appear to harmonize in this sentiment, at least, that there are material imperfections in our national system, and that something is necessary to be done to rescue us from impending anarchy” (Hamilton et. al. 1787). This quote captures the idea that the Federalists believed that the Articles of Confederation were inadequate as a system by which to establish a confederation of states and that ultimately a government which operated using the Articles of Confederation as their granting authority was doomed to fail. Therefore, the Federalists believed that a Constitution was critical for the future of the
The political group who did not support the constitution became known as Anti-Federalists. They did not support a central government. The thought that the states should have more power and that the rights of the people should be protected. The leaders of the Anti-Federalists were well know due to the revolutionary war. Other people who supported the well known Anti-Federalists were those who would benefit from an economic and political system less tight than the constitution. These people included Backcountry Baptists and
After the Constitution was written by the Philadelphia Convention in 1787, all the individual states of America had to be convinced for its ratification. But, opponents, named "Anti-Federalists" opposed against the Constitution's ratification for multiple reasons: some thought that the Constitution would "take away the power from individual states", others desired "an even more centralized government with a single popularly elected government" and finally, some seeked for a Bill of Rights to "protect individuals liberties", in fear of undermining "the claims of slaveholders or other property owners". James Jay, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison therefore wrote the Federalist Papers, eighty-five anonymous essays , in order to reduce the fears of Anti-Federalists and promote the Constitution's ratification. These papers described the importance
When political leaders met in Philadelphia to figure out how they could strengthen the Articles of Confederation they soon realized that they needed to replace the entire thing with the US Constitution. Those that did not support the constitution were became known as the anti-federalist and those that supported it were known as the Federalists. The federalist wrote the Federalists Papers that were published in newspapers trying to gain support for the constitution. Two states, Massachusetts and South Carolina wrote up a resolution list to ratify the Constitution in order to get them to support it. Both states wanted “all Powers not expressly delegated by the aforesaid Constitution to be reserved to the several States to be by them exercised” (Avalon Project, 1788). Massachusetts also wanted one representative for every 30,000 people from the census that the Constitution mentioned until there were 200 representatives. According to the reading last week the antifederalists wanted a bill of rights to secure the rights of the people. Madison argued with them stating that “the constitution is itself….a BILL OF RIGHTS” (Divine 2013, p. 152). The Antifederalists wanted to make certain that the people’s rights of free speech, and freedom of religion were protected and this is one thing that the Bill of
After the American Revolution, two political parties by the people in an effort to form a government of their own. Anti-Federalists wanted small local government and Federalists wanted large Federal centered Government.
Initially, the United States adopted a document known as the Articles of Confederation as its governing principles. For some, the Articles failed to place enough power in the hands of the government, therefore rendering it ineffective and weak; Congress lacked any true power in compelling states and was burdened by the post-war repayment of debt (Boundless). In the wake of what some viewed as a failure, the Federalists were born. This political group pursued the creation and ratification of a new document; the Constitution. Typically, the Federalist supporters were labeled as successful farmers, merchants, and artisans (Goldfield). Under this new culmination of fundamental principles, the push for the establishment of a strong and centralized governing force was determined (Boundless). One of the most notable shifts suggested by the Constitution, supported by the Federalist group, was a limit placed on the power of the individual state as well as the placement of a Senate to provide fair representation of each state’s interests and beliefs. They argued that Senate, along with two representatives from each state, justly represented state interests (Goldfield). A large republic was seen as best protection for individual freedoms (Goldfield). When a Bill of Rights was brought to their attention by the opposing group, the Anti Federalist, it was deemed unnecessary as the Federalists felt that their Constitution was a control of the rights of government rather than the people. The Federalists supported the ratification of their country's
Federalist and Anti-federalist depended on Virginia's vote since it was a big powerful state and smaller states would follow behind. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote 85 essays in newspapers in support of the Constitution. While they were waiting for Virginia's vote, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitutuion. So then it went into effect on July 4, 1788. They had a parade where militiamen that fought in the Revolution
The anti-federalists were the group that disagreed with having a strong national government, as they wanted a strong state government for their own benefits and a weaker national government. John Hancock was one of the main supporters in keeping a powerful state government, or what they thought was one. The main supporters of this atrocious idea were mostly dominated by the farmers and people living in rural areas. They did not want a Constitution and were completely fine with the Articles of Confederation, as they thought it would benefit them