FEDERALISTS VS. ANTI-FEDERALISTS THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATE

Ratification After the delegates wrote the Constitution at the Constitutional Convention, it had to he ratified, or approved, by the states. 9 out of 13 states had to ratify, approve it

THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATE Ratification Americans began to discuss the arguments for or against ratification and 2 parties developed Federalists : Supported a strong national government and supported the constitution Anti Federalists : Wanted a weak national government and did not support the Constitution

FEDERALISTS VS. ANTI FEDERALISTS Federalists ( )Anti Federalists (212) How did they feel about the Constitution? Important Individuals: Explain the Federalists Papers: How did they feel about the Constitution? Important Individual: Explain the Anti-Federalists Papers: What did the Anti-Federalists believe was missing? What was the Anti-Federalists greatest fear? Liked the Constitution because it had a strong national government Washington, Franklin, James Madison, John Jay, Alex Hamilton Essays explaining and defending the Constitution, written to persuade people to accept it Disliked the Constitution because it gave national government too much power Patrick Henry Wrote the new constitution would take away liberties (freedoms) Bill of Rights Worried a strong national government would abuse power, like King of England

READ THE DOCUMENTS, AND DETERMINE IF THEY ARE A FEDERALISTS OR ANTI FEDERALISTS VIEWPOINT “Did it ever enter the mind of any one of you, that you could live to see the day, that any other government but the General Assembly of Virginia should have power of direct taxation in this state? How few of you ever expected to see excise laws, those instruments of tyranny, in force in your country?” “IT HAS been already observed that the federal government ought to possess the power of providing for the support of the national forces; in which proposition was intended to be included the expense of raising troops, of building and equipping fleets, and all other expenses in any wise connected with military arrangements and operations.” The Anti-federalist Papers Anonymous Virginia Anti-federalist, Published October 31, 1787 Excerpt from Federalist Paper #30 Alexander Hamilton, published Friday, December 28, 1787

READ THE DOCUMENTS, AND DETERMINE IF THEY ARE A FEDERALISTS OR ANTI FEDERALISTS VIEWPOINT “AMONG the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction.” “The remaining power for peace and trade might perhaps be safely lodged with Congress under some limitations. Three restrictions appear to me to be essentially necessary to preserve that equality of rights to the states, which it is the object of the state governments to secure to each citizen.” Excerpt from the Federalists Papers Friday, November 23, MADISON Excerpt from Anti Federalist Paper #11 Alexander Hamilton, published 1787

THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATE Adopting the Constitution James Madison was asked to write the Constitution and became known as the Father of the Constitution Constitution was finally ratified, when the Federalists agreed to add a Bill of Rights as the first 10 Amendments Amendments: something added to the Constitution Sept 17, 1787 the delegates signed the Constitution, ratifying it, making it the new government of the US