Federalist vs Antifederalists First Political Opponents

The creation of the Constitution entailed hours of debate and compromise, and even when it was completed, some delegates were unhappy with it. The task of fixing the ailing Confederate government was not complete yet; each state had to ratify, or approve, the Constitution. Basically, people divided into two groups, the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. Each of their viewpoints is worth examining, as they both have sound reasoning. The creation of the Constitution entailed hours of debate and compromise, and even when it was completed, some delegates were unhappy with it. The task of fixing the ailing Confederate government was not complete yet; each state had to ratify, or approve, the Constitution. Basically, people divided into two groups, the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. Each of their viewpoints is worth examining, as they both have sound reasoning.

Anti-federalists Anti-federalists -- states' rights advocates, backcountry farmers, poor farmers, the ill-educated and illiterate, debtors, & paper-money advocates. In general, the poorer classes of society. Anti-federalists -- states' rights advocates, backcountry farmers, poor farmers, the ill-educated and illiterate, debtors, & paper-money advocates. In general, the poorer classes of society.

Patrick Henry Patrick Henry Patrick Henry State: Virginia State: Virginia Age at Ratifying Convention: 52 Age at Ratifying Convention: 52 Affiliation: Anti-federalist Affiliation: Anti-federalist Vote at Ratifying Convention: Nay Vote at Ratifying Convention: Nay Date of Birth: May 29, 1736 Date of Birth: May 29, 1736 Date of Death: June 6, 1799 Date of Death: June 6, 1799 Occupation: Lawyer Occupation: Lawyer

Patrick Henry

Thomas Jefferson Jefferson would turn the Philosophy into a political party Jefferson would turn the Philosophy into a political party

Samuel Adams State: Massachusetts State: Massachusetts Age at Ratifying Convention: 65 Age at Ratifying Convention: 65 Affiliation: Anti-federalist Affiliation: Anti-federalist Vote at Ratifying Convention: Yea, with Bill of Rights Vote at Ratifying Convention: Yea, with Bill of Rights Date of Birth: September 27, 1722 Date of Birth: September 27, 1722 Date of Death: October 2, 1803 Date of Death: October 2, 1803 Schooling: Harvard College, 1740 Schooling: Harvard College, 1740 Occupation: Politician, Merchant Occupation: Politician, Merchant Prior Political Experience: Member of the First Continental Congress; Signer of the Declaration of Independence; Signer of the Articles of Confederation Prior Political Experience: Member of the First Continental Congress; Signer of the Declaration of Independence; Signer of the Articles of Confederation Other Political Activities: Massachusetts State Senate, 1781 Other Political Activities: Massachusetts State Senate, 1781

Sam Adams

Other Authors Brutus (possibly Robert Yates, Abraham Yates, Thomas Tredwell, or Melancton Smith) Brutus (possibly Robert Yates, Abraham Yates, Thomas Tredwell, or Melancton Smith)Robert YatesAbraham Yates Thomas TredwellMelancton SmithRobert YatesAbraham Yates Thomas TredwellMelancton Smith Cato (George Clinton) Cato (George Clinton)George ClintonGeorge Clinton Federal Farmer (Richard Henry Lee) Federal Farmer (Richard Henry Lee)Richard Henry LeeRichard Henry Lee

Ratification Positions: Ratification Positions: 1. Articles of Confederation were a good plan. 1. Articles of Confederation were a good plan. 2. Opposed strong central government. Opposed a standing army and a 10 square mile federal stronghold (later District of Columbia 2. Opposed strong central government. Opposed a standing army and a 10 square mile federal stronghold (later District of Columbia The Anti-Federalists did not want to ratify the Constitution. Basically, they argue that:

3. Strong national government threatened state power. 3. Strong national government threatened state power. 4. Strong national government threatened rights of the common people. Constitution was created by aristocratic elements. Suspected a sinister plot to suppress liberty of the masses. 4. Strong national government threatened rights of the common people. Constitution was created by aristocratic elements. Suspected a sinister plot to suppress liberty of the masses.

5. Constitution favored wealthy men and preserved their power. Opposed the dropping of annual elections for representatives. 5. Constitution favored wealthy men and preserved their power. Opposed the dropping of annual elections for representatives. 6. Constitution lacked a bill of rights. State governments already had bills of rightsbut they might be overriden by the Constitution. 6. Constitution lacked a bill of rights. State governments already had bills of rightsbut they might be overriden by the Constitution.

7. Argued against 2/3 ratification plan. Articles of Confederation required unanimous consent. 7. Argued against 2/3 ratification plan. Articles of Confederation required unanimous consent. 8. Opposed omitting any reference to God. 8. Opposed omitting any reference to God.

BILL Of RIGHTS Of these complaints, the lack of a bill of rights was the most effective. The American people had just fought a war to defend their rights, and they did not want a intimidating national government taking those rights away again. Of these complaints, the lack of a bill of rights was the most effective. The American people had just fought a war to defend their rights, and they did not want a intimidating national government taking those rights away again.

Federalists Federalists -- Well educated and propertied class. Most lived in settled areas along the seaboard. Federalists -- Well educated and propertied class. Most lived in settled areas along the seaboard.

Alexander Hamilton State: New York (Born in British West Indies, immigrated 1772) State: New York (Born in British West Indies, immigrated 1772) Age at Ratifying Convention: 31 Age at Ratifying Convention: 31 Affiliation: Federalist Affiliation: Federalist Nom de Plume: Publius (with Madison and Jay) Nom de Plume: Publius (with Madison and Jay) Vote at Ratifying Convention: Yea Vote at Ratifying Convention: Yea Date of Birth: January 11, 1757 Date of Birth: January 11, 1757 Date of Death: July 12, 1804 Date of Death: July 12, 1804 Schooling: Attended Kings College (Columbia) Schooling: Attended Kings College (Columbia)

Hamilton

Madison James Madison James Madison State: Virginia State: Virginia Age at Ratifying Convention: 36 Age at Ratifying Convention: 36 Affiliation: Federalist Affiliation: Federalist Nom de Plume: Publius (with Jay and Hamilton) Nom de Plume: Publius (with Jay and Hamilton) Vote at Ratifying Convention: Yea Vote at Ratifying Convention: Yea Date of Birth: March 16, 1751 Date of Birth: March 16, 1751 Date of Death: June 28, 1836 Date of Death: June 28, 1836 Schooling: College of New Jersey (Princeton) 1771 Schooling: College of New Jersey (Princeton) 1771 Occupation: Politician Occupation: Politician

Madison

John Jay John Jay John Jay State: New York State: New York Age at Ratifying Convention: 42 Age at Ratifying Convention: 42 Affiliation: Federalist Affiliation: Federalist Nom de Plume: Publius (with Madison and Hamilton) Nom de Plume: Publius (with Madison and Hamilton) Vote at Ratifying Convention: Yea Vote at Ratifying Convention: Yea Date of Birth: December 12, 1745 Date of Birth: December 12, 1745 Date of Death: May 17, 1829 Date of Death: May 17, 1829 Schooling: King's College (Columbia) Schooling: King's College (Columbia) Occupation: Attorney, Judge Occupation: Attorney, Judge

Federalist Papers

Ratification Positions: 1. Articles of Confederation were weak and ineffective. 1. Articles of Confederation were weak and ineffective. 2. National government needed to be strong in order to function. Powers in foreign policy needed to be strengthened while excesses at home needed to be controlled. 2. National government needed to be strong in order to function. Powers in foreign policy needed to be strengthened while excesses at home needed to be controlled.

3. Strong national government needed to control uncooperative states. 3. Strong national government needed to control uncooperative states. 4. Men of experience and talent should govern the nation. "Mobocracy" threatened the security of life and property. 4. Men of experience and talent should govern the nation. "Mobocracy" threatened the security of life and property.

5. National government would protect the rights of the people. 5. National government would protect the rights of the people. 6. Constitution and state governments protected individual freedoms without bill of rights. Since people could take back delegated power to the gov’t, there was no risk that the national gov’t would overreach. 6. Constitution and state governments protected individual freedoms without bill of rights. Since people could take back delegated power to the gov’t, there was no risk that the national gov’t would overreach.

7. In favor of establishing the Constitution with almost any means possible. 7. In favor of establishing the Constitution with almost any means possible. 8. More sympathetic to separation of church and state. 8. More sympathetic to separation of church and state.

The Federalists had answers to all of the Anti-Federalist complaints. The separation of powers into three independent branches protected the rights of the people. Each branch represents a different aspect of the people, and because all three branches are equal, no one group can assume control over another The separation of powers into three independent branches protected the rights of the people. Each branch represents a different aspect of the people, and because all three branches are equal, no one group can assume control over another

A listing of rights can be a dangerous thing. If the national government were to protect specific listed rights, what would stop it from violating rights other than the listed ones? Since we can't list all the rights, the Federalists argued that it's better to list none at all. A listing of rights can be a dangerous thing. If the national government were to protect specific listed rights, what would stop it from violating rights other than the listed ones? Since we can't list all the rights, the Federalists argued that it's better to list none at all.

Process of ratification The ratification, or adoption, of the took place between September of 1787 and July of The Federal Convention, which had drafted the Constitution between May and September 1787, had no authority to impose it on the American people. Article VII of the Constitution and resolutions adopted by the convention on September 17, 1787, detailed a four-stage process: (1) submission of the Constitution to the Confederation Congress, (2) transmission of the Constitution by Congress to the state legislatures, (3) election of delegates to conventions in each state to consider the Constitution, and (4) ratification by the conventions of at least nine of the thirteen states. The ratification, or adoption, of the Constitution took place between September of 1787 and July of The Federal Convention, which had drafted the Constitution between May and September 1787, had no authority to impose it on the American people. Article VII of the Constitution and resolutions adopted by the convention on September 17, 1787, detailed a four-stage ratification process: (1) submission of the Constitution to the Confederation Congress, (2) transmission of the Constitution by Congress to the state legislatures, (3) election of delegates to conventions in each state to consider the Constitution, and (4) ratification by the conventions of at least nine of the thirteen states.Constitutionratification

The Federalists were more organized in their efforts. By June of 1788, the Constitution was close to ratification. Nine states had ratified it, and only one more (New Hampshire) was needed The Federalists were more organized in their efforts. By June of 1788, the Constitution was close to ratification. Nine states had ratified it, and only one more (New Hampshire) was needed

the Federalists agreed that once Congress met, it would draft a bill of rights. the Federalists agreed that once Congress met, it would draft a bill of rights. Finally, New York and Virginia approved, and the Constitution was a reality Finally, New York and Virginia approved, and the Constitution was a reality the Bill of Rights was not originally a part of the Constitution, and yet it has proved to be highly important to protecting the rights of the people. the Bill of Rights was not originally a part of the Constitution, and yet it has proved to be highly important to protecting the rights of the people.

Today Anti-Federalists The Anti-Federalists generally gravitated toward the views of Thomas Jefferson, coalescing into the Republican Party, later known as the Democratic Republicans, the precursor to today's Democratic Party. The Anti-Federalists generally gravitated toward the views of Thomas Jefferson, coalescing into the Republican Party, later known as the Democratic Republicans, the precursor to today's Democratic Party.

Federalists The Federalists were successful in their effort to get the Constitution ratified by all 13 states. The Federalists later established a party known as the Federalist Party. The party backed the views of Hamilton and was a strong force in the early United States. The party, however, was short- lived, dead by The Federalists were successful in their effort to get the Constitution ratified by all 13 states. The Federalists later established a party known as the Federalist Party. The party backed the views of Hamilton and was a strong force in the early United States. The party, however, was short- lived, dead by 1824.