When it came to national politics, they favored
strong state governments
, a weak central government, the direct election of government officials, short term limits for officeholders, accountability by officeholders to popular majorities, and the strengthening of individual liberties.
What did the Anti-Federalists want?
Many Anti-Federalists preferred a
weak central government
because they equated a strong government with British tyranny. Others wanted to encourage democracy and feared a strong government that would be dominated by the wealthy. They felt that the states were giving up too much power to the new federal government.
What did the Anti-Federalists strongly support?
Anti-Federalists
As opposed to Federalists, people that feared a strong central government, supported
states’ rights
, and opposed ratification of the U.S. Constitution. … Anti-federalists strongly opposed the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in Virginia and New York.
Which plan did the Anti-Federalists support?
The Federalists wanted a strong government and strong executive branch, while the anti-Federalists wanted a
weaker central government
. The Federalists did not want a bill of rights —they thought the new constitution was sufficient. The anti-federalists demanded a bill of rights.
Who did the Anti-Federalists get support from?
Ranging from political elites like James Winthrop in Massachusetts to Melancton Smith of New York and Patrick Henry and George Mason of Virginia, these Antifederalist were joined by a large number of
ordinary Americans
particularly yeomen farmers who predominated in rural America.
What is the difference between federalist and anti federalist?
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. … They did not share one unified position on the proper form of government.
What did Federalists believe?
Federalists wanted
a strong central government
. They believed that a strong central government was necessary if the states were going to band together to form a nation. A strong central government could represent the nation to other countries.
Why did the Federalists win?
In 1787, toward the end of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Mason proposed that a bill of rights preface the Constitution, but his proposal was defeated. Why did the Federalists win?
Federalists seized the initiative and were better organized and politically shrewder than Anti-federalists
.
Why didn’t the federalists want a bill of rights?
Federalists argued that the Constitution did not need a bill of rights, because
the people and the states kept any powers not given to the federal government
. Anti-Federalists held that a bill of rights was necessary to safeguard individual liberty.
What states were federalist?
In the congressional elections of 1798 the Federalists gained greater support in their strongholds in New England, the
middle states, Delaware, and Maryland
. They made significant gains in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
What is the opposite of federalism?
This time, it was decided that a government system based on federalism would be established. … The opposite of this system of government is
a centralized government
, such as in France and Great Britain, where the national government holds all power.
What were the 3 main arguments of the anti-federalists against the constitution?
fears that Congress might seize too many powers under the necessary and proper clause; concerns that republican government could not work in a land the size of the United States; and their most successful argument against the adoption of the Constitution —
the lack of a bill of rights to protect individual liberties
.
Did the Federalists support the Constitution?
Led by Alexander Hamilton, albeit secretly at first, the Federalists were the first political party of the United States.
They supported the Constitution
, and attempted to convince the States to ratify the document.
What did the Anti Federalists believe about the economy?
Economic factions, which had been ruinous to the political systems of other republics, would under the Constitution be controlled and constructive. Antifederalists rejected these points. They
denied that state economic policies were bad or that economic conditions were disastrous
.
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 was the leader of the Federalists?
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.
