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
.
Which group opposed the adoption of the Constitution?
The Anti-Federalists
opposed the ratification of the 1787 U.S. Constitution because they feared that the new national government would be too powerful and thus threaten individual liberties, given the absence of a bill of rights.
Who opposed the adoption of the US Constitution?
In the ratification debate,
the Anti-Federalists
opposed to the Constitution. They complained that the new system threatened liberties, and failed to protect individual rights. The Anti-Federalists weren't exactly a united group, but instead involved many elements.
Who favored the Constitution and who opposed it?
Almost immediately upon the adjournment of the Convention and the publication of the Constitution, people divided themselves into two groups: those favoring ratification were called
Federalists
and those opposed to ratification were known as Anti-federalists.
Who supported rejecting the Constitution?
Federalists
and Anti-Federalists
Two parties soon developed: Federalists in support of the Constitution and Anti-Federalists opposed.
Which principle was built in to the Constitution?
The Principles Underlying the Constitution
Federalism aside, three key principles are the crux of the Constitution:
separation of powers, checks and balances, and bicameralism
.
Who wrote the Constitution?
James Madison
is known as the Father of the Constitution because of his pivotal role in the document's drafting as well as its ratification. Madison also drafted the first 10 amendments — the Bill of Rights.
Which states opposed the Constitution because there was no Bill of Rights?
New York also ratified, but followed Massachusetts and Virginia's lead by submitting a list of proposed amendments.
Rhode Island and North Carolina
refused to ratify without a bill of rights.
What system of government was in place after the US Constitution was adopted?
The present United States Constitution replaced
the Articles of Confederation
on March 4, 1789. From the “Statutes at Large,” A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774 – 1875.
In which year was the US Constitution adopted?
On June 21,
1788
, the Constitution became the official framework of the government of the United States of America when New Hampshire became the ninth of 13 states to ratify it. The journey to ratification, however, was a long and arduous process.
Who were the main federalist leaders?
Influential public leaders who accepted the Federalist label included
John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Rufus King, John Marshall, Timothy Pickering and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney
. All had agitated for a new and more effective constitution in 1787.
Did farmers want the Constitution?
Many ordinary farmers did support the Constitution
because they accepted the Federalists' arguments that the nation was languishing under a government with insufficient power to levy taxes for national defense, conduct a muscular foreign policy, and devise national solutions to other national problems.
What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called?
They wanted a “living document.” This means the Constitution can change with the country. A change to the Constitution is called an amendment. In 1791, a list of ten amendments was added. The first ten amendments to the Constitution are called
the Bill of Rights
.
Which Founding Fathers were Anti-Federalists?
- Patrick Henry, Virginia.
- Samuel Adams, Massachusetts.
- Joshua Atherton, New Hampshire.
- George Mason, Virginia.
- Richard Henry Lee, Virginia.
- Robert Yates, New York.
- James Monroe, Virginia.
- Amos Singletary, Massachusetts.
Who opposed the Federalists?
The Antifederalists
were a diverse coalition of people who opposed ratification of the Constitution. Although less well organized than the Federalists, they also had an impressive group of leaders who were especially prominent in state politics.
Who was a leading spokesman for the Anti-Federalists?
Patrick Henry
was the foremost leader of the Anti-federalists.
