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Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist: Protecting Liberties, Preventing Tyranny, Study Guides, Projects, Research of Local Government Studies

An insightful analysis of the debate between federalists and anti-federalists during the ratification of the us constitution. The federalists, led by alexander hamilton, james madison, and john jay, argued for a strong central government and checks and balances to prevent tyranny. The anti-federalists, led by patrick henry, george mason, and samuel adams, advocated for strong state governments and a bill of rights to protect individual liberties. The document also discusses the influential federalist papers and the anti-federalist essays of brutus.

What you will learn

  • What were the key compromises that led to the ratification of the US Constitution?
  • How did the Federalist Papers and Anti-Federalist essays influence the debate?
  • What were the main arguments of Federalists and Anti-Federalists during the US Constitution ratification?

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the jerry perez experiment
APGov Name___________________________
Unit 1, Lesson 3 SR Date__________________ Per.______
FEDERALISTS VERSUS ANTI-FEDERALISTS
The delegates agreed that the Constitution would go into effect as soon as popularly elected conventions in
nine states approved it. The debate over ratification - the formal approval of the Constitution by the states -
raged throughout the country, with supporters of the new government calling themselves Federalists, and their
opponents, the Anti-Federalists. The main debate was primarily about the scope of power of the central
government.
Federalists supported the greatly increased powers of the central government and believed that the
Constitution adequately protected individual liberties.
The Anti-Federalists believed that the proposed government would be oppressive and that more
individual freedoms and rights should be explicitly guaranteed.
Pamphlets, newspapers, and speeches supported one view or the other.
THE FEDERALIST PAPERS
Ratification of the Constitution was defended by the
Federalist Papers
, written by Alexander Hamilton, James
Madison, and John Jay. These documents contain some of the most basic and brilliantly argued philosophical
underpinnings of American government. Two famous papers are
Federalist #10
and
Federalist #51.
The
Federalist #10
addresses the question of how to guard against factions, or groups of citizens, with
interests contrary to the rights of others or the interests of the whole community and argued that separation of
powers and federalism check the growth of tyranny: If factious leaders...kindle a flame within their particular
states...leaders can check the spread of the conflagration through the other states.Likewise, each branch of
the government keeps the other two from gaining a concentration of power. Madison argues that a long-lived
democracy must manage its interest groups, even though these factions can never be eliminated. Madison
argued that a strong, big republic would be a better guard against those dangers than smaller republicsfor
instance, the individual states.
The
Federalist #51
explained why strong government is necessary: If men were angels, no government would
be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be
necessary.” It also addressed means by which appropriate checks and balances can be created in government
FEDERALISTS
Favored Constitution
Led by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay
Stressed weaknesses of Articles; strong central
government needed to protect nation and solve
domestic problems
Checks and balances would protect against
abuses
Protection of property rights
Constitution is a bill of rights with limitations and
reserved powers for the states; state
constitutions already had protections in bills of
rights
ANTI-FEDERALISTS
Opposed Constitution
Led by Patrick Henry, George Mason, Samuel
Adams
Wanted strong state governments; feared a
strong national government
Created a strong executive similar to monarchy
Wanted fewer limits on popular participation
Wanted a bill of rights to protect individual
liberty and citizens against government and
individual
pf2

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the jerry perez experiment

APGov Name___________________________

Unit 1, Lesson 3 SR Date__________________ Per.______

FEDERALISTS VERSUS ANTI-FEDERALISTS

The delegates agreed that the Constitution would go into effect as soon as popularly elected conventions in nine states approved it. The debate over ratification - the formal approval of the Constitution by the states - raged throughout the country, with supporters of the new government calling themselves Federalists, and their opponents, the Anti-Federalists. The main debate was primarily about the scope of power of the central government.

  • Federalists supported the greatly increased powers of the central government and believed that the Constitution adequately protected individual liberties.
  • The Anti-Federalists believed that the proposed government would be oppressive and that more individual freedoms and rights should be explicitly guaranteed. Pamphlets, newspapers, and speeches supported one view or the other. THE FEDERALIST PAPERS Ratification of the Constitution was defended by the Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay. These documents contain some of the most basic and brilliantly argued philosophical underpinnings of American government. Two famous papers are Federalist #10 and Federalist #51. The Federalist #10 addresses the question of how to guard against “factions”, or groups of citizens, with interests contrary to the rights of others or the interests of the whole community and argued that separation of powers and federalism check the growth of tyranny: If “factious leaders...kindle a flame within their particular states...” leaders can check the spread of the “conflagration through the other states.” Likewise, each branch of the government keeps the other two from gaining a concentration of power. Madison argues that a long-lived democracy must manage its interest groups, even though these factions can never be eliminated. Madison argued that a strong, big republic would be a better guard against those dangers than smaller republics—for instance, the individual states. The Federalist #51 explained why strong government is necessary: “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.” It also addressed means by which appropriate checks and balances can be created in government

FEDERALISTS

♦ Favored Constitution ♦ Led by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay ♦ Stressed weaknesses of Articles; strong central government needed to protect nation and solve domestic problems ♦ Checks and balances would protect against abuses ♦ Protection of property rights ♦ Constitution is a bill of rights with limitations and reserved powers for the states; state constitutions already had protections in bills of rights

ANTI-FEDERALISTS

♦ Opposed Constitution ♦ Led by Patrick Henry, George Mason, Samuel Adams ♦ Wanted strong state governments; feared a strong national government ♦ Created a strong executive similar to monarchy ♦ Wanted fewer limits on popular participation ♦ Wanted a bill of rights to protect individual liberty and citizens against government and individual

the jerry perez experiment and also advocates a separation of powers within the national government. One of its most important ideas is the often quoted phrase, “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.” THE ANTI-FEDERALIST RESPONSE It is important to also understand the Anti-Federalist objections to the ratification of the Constitution. Among the most important of the Anti-Federalist writings are the essays of Brutus. Although it has not been definitively established, these essays are generally attributed to Robert Yates. The Brutus essays provide the most direct and compelling rebuttal of the Federalist argument. Brutus I was written to the citizens of the state of New York. In his first essay, Brutus considered whether or not the thirteen states should be reduced to one republic as the Federalists proposed. After examining various clauses in the Constitution, he determined that this would essentially create a federal government that will “possess absolute and uncontrollable power…” Brutus pointed to the Necessary and Proper Clause (3.8.18) and the Supremacy Clause (6.2.0) as sources of immense power conferred upon the federal government by the Constitution. THE BILL OF RIGHTS A compromise between Federalists and Anti-Federalists was reached with the agreement to add ten amendments that guaranteed individual freedoms and rights. With this agreement, the Constitution was finally ratified by all the states in 1789, and the Bill of Rights was added in 1791. Without these crucial additions, the Constitution would not have been ratified in several key states.