Both Sides: Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists CICERO History Beyond The Textbook CICERO © 2007

CICERO History Beyond The Textbook CICERO © 2007 The Ratification Process The drafting of the new United States Constitution was only the beginning of the process to make it the law of the land. In order for this to happen, at least nine of the thirteen states would have to ratify the Constitution. The debate over ratification would split the political leaders of the time. People who supported ratification of the Constitution were Federalists, and those who opposed the new Constitution were Anti-Federalists. The debate over ratification of the Constitution would take place on the pages of the many newspapers and pamphlets that circulated in the country.

The Federalists CICERO History Beyond The Textbook CICERO © 2007 Federalists supported ratification of the Constitution. James Madison, who had been a key figure in drafting of the Constitution, along with Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and others answered criticisms of the new Constitution. These men wanted to push the ratification of the Constitution and to influence future interpretations of the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton John Jay James Madison

The Anti-Federalists CICERO History Beyond The Textbook CICERO © 2007 Anti-Federalists opposed ratification of the Constitution. They argued that although the Articles of Confederation needed to be improved, the proposed Constitution granted too much power to the national government. Some of the more famous Anti-Federalists included Patrick Henry, George Mason, George Clinton, and Thomas Paine. Other Anti- Federalists preferred to remain anonymous and used pseudonyms such as Centinel, Brutus, and Republicus. Thomas Paine George Mason Patrick Henry

The Federalists CICERO History Beyond The Textbook CICERO © 2007 The Federalist, was a series of eighty-five articles written and published between September 1787 and August The articles presented arguments in favor of the new Constitution. Although all of the articles are signed Publius, it was well known the main authors were Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. Hamilton wrote the first essay in response to a series of Anti-Federalist articles criticizing the Constitution. Most of these essays were published in The New York Packet and The Independent Journal.

The Anti-Federalists CICERO History Beyond The Textbook CICERO © 2007 The Anti-Federalist papers were a series of editorials critical of the Constitution. The primary argument of the Anti-Federalists was that the new government was too powerful and threatened the rights of the states and their citizens. While most of the Anti- Federalist papers were written anonymously, historians are confident they have identified several of these writers. George Clinton “Cato” Richard Henry Lee “Federal Farmer” Robert Yates “Brutus” and “Sydney” Samuel Bryan “ ” Mercy Otis Warren “Columbian Patriot”

Factions CICERO History Beyond The Textbook CICERO © 2007 The debate resulting from ratification of the Constitution split Americans between those who favored a strong central government and those who wanted power to reside with the states. Although President George Washington warned of political factions in his farewell address, the divisions that had begun in 1787 led to the formation of the first political parties in the United States: The Federalist Party and the Democratic- Republican Party.

The Result CICERO History Beyond The Textbook CICERO © 2007 Both sides in the debate between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists won. The Federalists won when the Constitution finally was ratified and became the law of the land. The Constitution established the federal government as the central authority. The Ant-Federalists won because the Bill of Rights would guarantee the rights of citizens. James Madison presents the Bill of Rights to Congress. While twelve amendments were originally proposed, only ten were sent to the states for ratification.

The Legacy CICERO History Beyond The Textbook CICERO © 2007 The Federalists and the Anti- Federalists argued about basic rights in the United States; however, those arguments did not end two hundred years ago with the ratification of the United States Constitution. The debate about the supremacy of the federal government over individual states would not be settled until the Civil War. The debate over the power reserved to the states and its citizens continues.