1. Federalists versus Antifederalists
Federalist papers (pen name Publius: Madison, Hamilton and Jay)
Antifederalists wrote as Brutus and the Federal Farmer
Demographics: Feds were large property owners, merchants from Northeast and Mid-atlantic states
Antifeds were small farmers, shopkeepers, laborers

2. What did Antifederalists believe?
Wanted one single legislative body
Rotation
Keep power close to people (stronger state governments, weaker national gov’t, small electoral districts/more representatives to truly represent views of the people, frequent election)
GOT BILL OF RIGHTS

3. What did Federalists believe?
Articles of Confederation insufficient
Strengthen national government but feared tyranny of majority especially by unpropertied
HOW DID THEY ARGUE THEIR CASE?

4. Federalists’ argument
1. government will fall apart if we don’t give it more power
2. States will actually have more power in the new system
3. scientific style of argument:
axioms and logical necessity - “a sound and unbiased mind would find these maxims irrestistible”

5. Behind the science of politics/logical arguments
Beardian thesis (Charles Beard, wrote book published 1913 called Economic Interpretation of the Constitution):
Supporters of Constitution represented a distinct class of people – merchants, shippers, bankers, speculators, holders of government securities.

6. Behind the science of politics/logical arguments
Opponents represented individuals whose economic interests were tied to the land –farmers, plantation owners, and debtors –would lose economically from the new Constitution so opposed it.
People involved in trade, commerce would benefit while Western landowners, slaveowners wouldn’t.

7. One study (McGuire and Ohsfeldt) looked at how delegates to the Constitutional Convention voted on whether or not to ratify the constitution.
Indeed found that people voted based on economic interests – e.g. delegates who were merchants more likely to support, slaveowners 40 percent less likely to support ratification

8. Gordon Wood response to economic interpretation
Wood is a historian who argued that the Constitution reflects not just economic interests but ideals and values –

9. Gordon Wood response to economic interpretation
Government grounded in consent, contract
So Wood takes “ideas” of those who wrote Constitution seriously (ideas like the social contract, individual rights) – felt they had achieved something worthy, created a lasting union based on 1) rep. democracy, 2) checks and balances and separation of powers

10. Federalism
UNITARY
CONFEDERATION
HYBRID

11. How are powers divided Enumerated powers Implied powers
Inherent powers