Antifederalists were against the ratification of the Constitution because they believed in classical republicanism. Monroe and Kersh (2016) define classical republicanism as, “ a democratic idea … that calls on citizens to participate in public affairs, seek the public interest, shun private gain, and defer to natural leaders,” (p. 69). The Antifederalists wanted citizens to take part in government so that public interests would be well represented so that the minority of the population would not have more power than the majority. The Antifederalists had four main reasons why they were against the ratification of the Constitution. Firstly, according to Monroe and Kersh (2016) “it stripped political control from citizens and placed it in a …show more content…
The Antifederalists did not want a constitution to allow potentially recreate the issues that the colonists had fought so hard to get away from. Furthermore, Monroe and Kersh (2016) established the Antifederalists believed that, “standing armies and navies were a threat to peace and liberty,” (p.69.) Monroe and Kersh (2016) mentioned, “the Quartering Act (1765), which required colonial assemblies to billet British troops…. Suddenly, the Redcoats seemed like an occupying army,” (p.46). The newly freed colonists still remembered how the having to house the British militia during times of peace felt like a threat to a peace and therefore the Antifederalists did not want to ratify the Constitution because there was nothing to prevent the liberty of citizens from being threatened again. Lastly, Monroe and Kersh (2016) declared “ the Antifederalists hammered away at the Constitution’s missing piece, a bill of rights,” …show more content…
The Federalists wrote pieces of propaganda that explained why they supported the Constitution. Monroe and Kersh (2016) stated that “Federalist no. 10 argues, surprisingly, that a large national government can protect liberty more effectively than small local governments,” (p.70). The Federalists supported a large national government because if small locals governments had more control, according to Monroe and Kersh (2016), “ … factions - groups that pursue their self- interest at the expense of others,” would form (p. 70). If factions were created, a single group would have more control because they would want to benefit themselves. Moreover, Monroe and Kersh (2016) claimed that, “ in Federalist no. 51, ‘if men were angels, no government would be necessary.’ If popular government is going to survive, it must be organized to protect minorities from majorities who are going to pursue their own self-interests, ” (p.70). They believed that the central government must be stronger than local governments to prevent individuals or groups from attaining too much
The anti federalists were mainly apprehensive about the Constitution, because they favored strong state governments and felt that the Constitution
The anti-federalists feared a strong government because it posed a threat to the people rights and that the president could be a king. I find that the federalist camp more appealing because they realized the weakness of the Confederation and tried to improve it such as the Judicial court system. There was no system of courts in the national government, the courts were dependent on the other states. This also made it that the states can ignore the national law without any consequences because the Congress has no way to enforce its own law. But the constitution helps the Congress to establish a national court system.
When talk of the Constitution arises it is understandable that colonists were weary of a government that would have that much power after they worked so hard to break away from Great Britain. The Federalists firmly believed that the Constitution would strengthen the Federal union and not give too much power to the central
When the states were first independent, they needed a government to run the country, thus creating the Articles of Confederation. Under The Articles of Confederation, the government was feeble and the country was failing. America was in major debt due to The Revolutionary War, states weren’t paying their federal duties, and Congress was unable to tax the states, which led to the government having no money. The image depicted was Shays Rebellion. Shays Rebellion was an army of Massachusetts farmers, led by Daniel Shays, who had created a rebellion against government, angered by taxes forced upon them.
The Federalists of the convention were in favor of the ratification of the Constitution. They believed that the national government must be strong in order to function and to control uncooperative states, which could protect the rights of the people. They also believed that the Constitution and state government protected individual freedoms. On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists opposed a strong central government, particularly a standing army. They believed it threatened state power along with the rights of the common people.
After the American Revolution, the formation of a new government was precedent. Federalists were afraid of disorder, anarchy, and chaos; the unchecked power of the masses, and sought for the constitution to create a government distant from popular passions. On the other hand, antifederalists were more concerned about the dangers of concentrated power. Equally, the antifederalists opposed the constitution because of the obstacles between the people and the exercised power, which is why federalists supported it. Hamilton was the Leader of the federalist party while Jefferson was the leader of the Republican party.
A convention based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 25, 1787 was called for the purpose of amending the Articles of Confederation. Confident to construct a new government from the ground up. Wouldn’t have been possible without the aid of the fifty-five delegates. The delegates pushed though despite their differences in opinions. Outlining our new government took well over a quarter of the year.
The Anti-Federalist who were strongly opposed to the Constitution felt the document
The Federalists wanted a strong central government. The Anti- Federalists claims Constitution gives the central government too much power and, and they worried about the new constitution will not give them any rights. That the new system threatened freedom; Also, threatened the sovereignty of the states and personal liberties; failed to protect individual rights. Besides, some of famous peoples such as " Patrick Henry" and artists have came out against the Constitution. Although the anti-Federalists were unsuccessful in stopping the passage of the Constitution, their efforts have been responsible for the creation and implementation of the Bill of
Kimberly Paul Mr. Brandenburg 030817 Much like the Democrats and Republicans of today, Federalists and Anti-Federalists had diverging opinions on how the nation should be governed. Federalists had the utmost faith in the people and believed that they were the only ones capable of governing the nation fairly and efficiently. They were avid believers of a strong central government, a central bank, and an army. Federalist No. 39 states: “It is essential to such a government that it be derived from the great body of the society, not from an inconsiderable proportion or a favored class of it,” proving that they were in favor of central, unionized government.
The solution to this was “threefold”: the first fold was to elect government leaders, the second fold was to limit those government powers, and the third and final fold was to hinder the paths of the majority. Electing government representatives was to deter dictatorships and the elites of the upper class and gain popular consent. Limiting the powers given to those government officials prevented tyranny from anyone who gained any control, and having the only
The main arguments that were made opposing the ratification of the U.S. constitution are the power and strength that focus too much on to the federal government that will seem to threaten the states. The Anti-Federalists wanted the power to be equally distributed between the federal and the state. In additionally, the Anti-Federalists believe that the new system will threaten liberties and failed to protect the rights of the citizens. Therefore, the Anti-Federalists hope to add a bill of rights
They felt the Constitution would create a system of federalism, a system in which the national government holds significant power, but the smaller political subdivisions also hold significant power. They felt the country needed a strong central government so that it didn’t fall apart. The Ant-Federalists were on the opposing side, they felt the Constitution granted the government too much power. They also felt there wasn’t enough protection of their right with an absent Bill of Rights. Another concern of the Anti-Federalists mainly came from the lower classes, from their standpoint they thought the wealthy class would be in main control and gain the most benefits from the ratification of this document.
The Anti- Federalists claimed the Constitution gave the central government an excessive amount of power, and while not a Bill of Rights the folks would be in danger of oppression. Both Hamilton and Madison argued that the Constitution did not want a Bill of Rights, that it might produce a "parchment barrier" that restricted the rights of the folks, as critical protective
George Clinton, Samuel Adams, Luther Martin, Richard Henry Lee, and Patrick Henry who were a part of the American Revolution, rejected the Convention in Philadelphia because they did not agree with its objectives. They were convinced that it threatened the “core principles” of the revolutionary heritage. The government regulated by the new Constitution and its democracy were less likely to thrive in small towns because people would not vote directly for their senators or their president, and radical egalitarianism did not have the opportunity to develop under the enhanced central state. Anti-Federalists actually exposed a wide range of ideas and theories; some aimed at reducing federal power, while others asked for the restrictions of that