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Ratifying the
Constitution
Federalist
1.
2.
Supporters of the
Constitution
Favored a strong
Federal
government that
shared some
power with the
states
(federalism)
because…
Anti-Federalist
Against (or opponents
of) the Constitution
2. Believed that a strong
national government
would tend to usurp
(seize and hold) the
powers of the state
governments
1.

Feared an overly
powerful central
government destructive
to the rights of the
people and the
prerogatives of the
states.
Federalist
Anti Federalist
(1) They argued that the checks
and balances in the Constitution
prevented any one of the 3
branches from acquiring more
power
 (2) Thought it was necessary to
facilitate interstate commerce
 (3) Needed it to manage foreign
trade, national defense, and
foreign relations
 (4) Promote economic
development and public
improvements

Federalist
3.
Argued that a
republic could
survive in a territory
as large as the U.S.
because…

The numerous political
factions (parties or
groups) would check
each other—
preventing any one
faction from gaining
too much power
Anti Federalist
3.
**Wanted a Bill of
Rights added; they
thought it was
necessary


Forced the Federalists
to pledge that a Bill of
Rights would be added
The Bill of Rights—1st
10 Amendments
(changes to the
Constitution)—would be
the 1st order of
business of the new
government
Federalist
4.
Argued that a Bill of
Rights would be
redundant—because…


5.
(1) The Constitution
itself protected basic
rights
(2) Most states already
had bills of rights that
clearly defined basic
rights that
governments could not
abolish
G. Washington, James
Madison, Alexander
Hamilton
Anti- Federalist
4.
5.
Patrick Henry,
Richard Henry Lee,
Sam Adams, George
Mason
Published essays
that were against
the adoption of the
Constitution
Federalist
6.
Wrote The
Federalist—series of
85 essays designed to
convince members of
NY state convention to
agree to the
Constitution

7.
Authors: Madison, John
Jay, A. Hamilton
Feared “the people”
more than the
government
Anti-Federalist

Feared “the
government” more
than the people
Federalist
8.
Today those who
see a primary role
for the federal
government in
solving national
problems are heir to
this tradition
Anti Federalist
7.
Today more
conservative
thinkers echo these
concerns and
champion liberty,
individual imitative
and free markets.