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.
What were the debates between the federalist and Anti-Federalists?
The Anti-Federalists
feared the Constitution would create a central government
that would act like a monarchy with little protection for civil liberties. Anti-Federalists favored power for state governments where public debate and citizen awareness had opportunities to influence and direct state and national policies.
What was the main argument of the Anti-Federalists?
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.
What did the Anti-Federalists insist on?
Anti-Federalists feared that
without a bill of rights the Constitution would not protect the rights
of the people or of the states, making their federal government too powerful.
What did 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 were three differences between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists?
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.
What did the 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.
How 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.
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 did the Federalists represent?
The
supporters of the proposed Constitution
called themselves “Federalists.” Their adopted name implied a commitment to a loose, decentralized system of government. In many respects “federalism” — which implies a strong central government — was the opposite of the proposed plan that they supported.
What is a federalist vs 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.
Why did Hamilton not want a Bill of Rights?
Hamilton didn't support the addition of a Bill of Rights because he
believed that the Constitution wasn't written to limit the people
. It listed the powers of the government and left all that remained to the states and the people.
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.
Who were the main leaders of the Anti-Federalists?
The Anti-federalists were lead mainly by
Patrick Henry, James Winthrop, Melancton Smith, and George Mason
. Patrick Henry was the foremost leader of the Anti-federalists.
How did Anti-Federalists influence the Constitution?
The Anti-Federalists
mobilized against the Constitution in state legislatures across
the country. Anti-Federalists in Massachusetts, Virginia and New York, three crucial states, made ratification of the Constitution contingent on a Bill of Rights.
