The Federalist/Anti-Federalist Debate

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The Federalist/Anti-Federalist Debate
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• After the Constitution was written, nine of the
  thirteen colonies had to ratify it before it
  would become law. While many new Americans
  supported the document, the Constitution was also
  widely criticized for
• Being drafted in secret.
• Creating such a strong federal government.
• Taking power from the states.
• Lacking a federal bill of rights.
• Opponents of the newly-written Constitution
  included Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson.

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The Constitution . . . is a triple headed
monster, as deep and wicked a conspiracy as ever
was invented in the darkest ages against the
liberties of a free people, said Constitutional
Convention delegate John Lansing from New York.
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And Thomas Paine said, The best government is
that which governs least.
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Thus began the infamous Federalist/Anti-Federalist
debates, an attempt by each side to convince
Americans of their points of view.
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The Federalists
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Alexander Hamilton
There is something noble and magnificent in the
perspective of a great Federal Republic, closely
linked in the pursuit of a common interest,
tranquil and prosperous at home, respectable
abroad.
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Alexander Hamilton was George Washingtons aide
in the Revolutionary War. Later, he would become
George Washingtons Secretary of State. He was
from New York, where he was an attorney and
journalist. His political career was cut short
when he was killed in a duel by Aaron Burr.
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James Madison
Liberty is safest in extended republics.
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James Madison, from a wealthy planter family in
Virginia, served in the Continental Congress. He
was Thomas Jeffersons Secretary of State and was
a two-term President of the United States. He
was one of the major drafters of the
Constitution, and is considered the Father of
the Bill of Rights.
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John Jay
Nothing is more certain than the indispensable
necessity of government, and it is equally
undeniable, that whenever and however it is
instituted, the people must cede to it some of
their natura rights in order to vest it with
requisite powers.
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John Jay, from a merchant family in New York,was
an attorney. He would become the first Chief
Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
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The Federalist Papers were a series of 85 essays
designed to convince the American public of the
need to ratify the Constitution. Hamilton
cleverly chose the name Federalist for his
papers because, at the time, this name implied
the promotion of state sovereignty, against a
strong national government. The author of the
papers was said to be Publius. It was common
at the time to use classical pseudonyms when
publishing articles. The name Publius referred
to Publius Valeruis, who restored the Roman
Republic after the overthrow of Romes last king.
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Some major points of the Federalist Papers,
explaining why the Constitution should be
ratified

• Each branch has the power to check the other.
• A strong executive is needed because Energy in
  the executive is a leading character in the
  definition of good government.
• Congress is established as the strongest and most
  important of the three branches.
• A strong national government is needed to defend
  the borders of the weak Republic.

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The Anti-Federalists
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The Anti-federalists were at a disadvantage the
newspapers of the new nation threw themselves
overwhelmingly behind the idea of the new
government as proposed by the Constitution.
Still, the Anti-federalists had strong popular
appeal. Their distrust and suspicions of strong
federal power were widespread.
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The Anti-Federalists saw in the Constitution
threats to rights and liberties so recently won
from England. The Framers of the document did
not openly discuss the issues of the
Constitution, and the secrecy bothered a lot of
Americans. Many Americans were not convinced that
a group of fewer than 100 men should answer
such questions as Should the members of the
government be elected by direct vote of the
people? Does slavery have any place in a nation
dedicated to liberty?
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• The Anti-Federalist published essays of their
  own, and their viewpoints had broad popular
  appeal. The Anti-federalists were deeply
  suspicious of political power. They warned that
  public officials, however selected, would be
  constantly attempting to expand their powers.
  Other arguments made by the Anti-Federalists
• Demanded direct, personal contact with their
  representatives.
• Ordinary citizens should be allowed to compete
  equally, in politics, as their more wealthy
  counterparts the Constitution set up a
  government that favored the elite.
• The public good is best served by strong local,
  and not national, governments.

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Some of the examples of the Anti-Federalist
essays
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Despite the arguments from the Anti-Federalists,
the Constitution was ratified. Delaware was the
first state to ratify it, and within eight
months, eight of the nine states had ratified it.
New York was the state to complete the
ratification process. The Anti-Federalists had
managed a compromise, and that was the promised
addition of a federal bill of rights.
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Said one Anti-Federalist, It is necessary that
the sober and industrious part of the community
should be defended from the rapacity and violence
of the vicious and idle. A bill of rights,
therefore, ought to set forth the purposes for
which the compact is made, and serves to secure
the minority against the usurpation and tyranny
of the majority.
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Even though Madison had originally opposed the
addition of a bill of rights to the Constitution,
(Hamilton had said in Federalist Paper No. 84
that the Constitution itself was a bill of
rights, and that each state constitution had its
own bill of rights) Madison later changed his
mind, realizing that compromise with the
Anti-Federalists was crucial if the government
was to be accepted by the masses. He said, We
have in this way something to gain, and if we
proceed with caution, nothing to lose.
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The Bill of Rights was written by James Madison.
It was ratified in 1791. The Bill of Rights
protects the freedoms of assembly, speech,
religion, and the press guarantees speedy trial
preserved the peoples right to bear arms and
prohibits unreasonable searches, among other
safeguards.
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The new government was thus complete. Although
some Americans complained that they had fought
the Revolution to avoid a strong central
government, most were optimistic about the young
country.
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