Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist A Debate over Ratification
Who were the Federalists? supported the Constitution and a strong national government Federalists included were James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay (wrote the Federalist Papers)
The Federalist Papers What? Who wrote them? Why? A series of essays that explained and supported the U.S. Constitution Who wrote them? Madison, Hamilton, and Jay Why? To get the public to support the Constitution
Who were the Anti-federalists? Believed that the Constitution created a national government that was too powerful. Opposed the Constitution because there was no Bill of Rights to protect individual freedoms Famous Anti-Federalist included Patrick Henry and George Mason