1. THE FEDERALISTS AND THE ANTI-FEDERALISTS THE FIGHT OVER RATIFICATION OF THE US CONSTITUTION By: Ric Paquette

2. FEDERALISM Federalism is the dividing of government power between the national government and the various states. The national government (federal government) has certain powers and the States have certain powers. Example- the federal government exercises control over national issues (the economy, defense) while the states exercise control over local issues (Florida exercises control over the voting and election processes, traffic laws, Florida beaches).

3. THE FEDERALISTS Under the Articles of Confederation (AOI), states held almost all of the government power in the US. The national government was very weak. Shays’ Rebellion demonstrated the need for a stronger national government. Delegates met in Philadelphia (Constitutional Convention) for the purpose of establishing a new government system. Federalists (those wanting a strong national government) believed that power flowed from the people, through the states, to the national government.

4. THE ANTI-FEDERALISTS Anti-federalists (those who did not want a strong national govern- ment) believed that the states gave power to the national government. Anti-federalists wanted power to remain in the states. Anti-federalists were afraid that a strong national government would have too much power, like King George III. The Anti-federalists accused the Federalists of wanting to set up a monarchy. Anti-federalists believed that a strong national government would limit or take away individual rights and freedoms.

5. THE FIGHT OVER CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION Under the AOI, the national Congress had 13 members, with each state had one representative. The AOI Congress had very little power. Large states (Virginia, New York, Massachusetts) wanted the new Congress to be determined by a state’s population (the larger states would have more representatives than the smaller states). Smaller states (New Jersey, Delaware, Rhode Island) were afraid that they would lose power to the larger states. These states wanted each state to have an equal number of representatives. Great Compromise- The Great Compromise settled the argument. Congress would have two houses, not one. The House of Representatives would be based on population (pro-large states). The Senate would have two senators from each state (pro-small sstate).

6. PERSONAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS Anti-federalists were afraid that a national government would take away individual rights and freedoms. Many states had a Bill of Rights; however, there was no Bill of Rights in the proposed Constitution. Compromise- Federalists promised the Anti-federalists that, if the Constitution was passed, the first thing that the new Congress would do would be to pass a national Bill of Rights. The Constitution was ratified (passed). A Bill of Rights was passed. The Bill of Rights makes up the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution.

7. RATIFICATION 9 States were required to ratify (approve) the proposed US Constitution before it went into effect.