Omar Bennett
When the American public learned of the new 1787 Constitution, opinions were divided, but most were opposed. Two factions emerged: the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it. The Anti-Federalists believed the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government, resembling the old British regime, and that liberties were best protected by state governments. They also wanted a Bill of Rights to protect citizens' rights. The Federalists, including Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, defended the Constitution through a series of essays, now known as the Federalist Papers. Despite opposition, the Constitution was eventually ratified, but only narrowly, with fewer than two thousand men voting in state conventions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of debate | 1787 |
| Authors of the Federalist Papers | Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and Madison |
| Number of Federalist Papers | 85 |
| Anti-Federalists' states | Massachusetts, Virginia, and New York |
| Federalists' states | Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Georgia |
| Federalists' votes in New York | 30 |
| Anti-Federalists' votes in New York | 27 |
| Federalists' votes in Massachusetts | 187 |
| Anti-Federalists' votes in Massachusetts | 168 |
| Federalists' votes in Virginia | 89 |
| Anti-Federalists' votes in Virginia | 79 |
| Federalists' votes in Rhode Island | 34 |
| Anti-Federalists' votes in Rhode Island | 32 |
| Anti-Federalists' votes in New Hampshire | 11 |
| Federalists' votes in New Hampshire | 63 |
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What You'll Learn
Anti-Federalists' concerns about the Constitution
The Anti-Federalists, those who opposed the 1787 Constitution, had several concerns about the document. Firstly, they believed that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government at the expense of the states. They argued that the Constitution would consolidate all power in a national government, taking away the power of the states to make their own decisions. This, they thought, would result in the creation of a privileged aristocracy. The unitary executive of the presidency, they said, resembled a monarch and would produce courts of intrigue in the nation's capital.
Secondly, Anti-Federalists believed that the liberties of the people were best protected by state governments, not a federal one. They were concerned that without a Bill of Rights, the federal government would become tyrannous. They saw the inclusion of a Bill of Rights as essential to protecting the basic rights and privileges of American citizens.
Thirdly, Anti-Federalists saw the replacement of the Articles of Confederation as unnecessary, arguing that the US already possessed a vibrant central government in the form of the Articles. They also believed that a large, extended republic was not possible and that a stronger central government would obliterate the states.
The opposition to the Constitution was led by figures such as Elbridge Gerry, Edmund Randolph, and George Mason, the "Three Dissenters" who refused to sign the document. In the press, an anonymous writer, signing off as "Cato", warned citizens that the Constitution was not all that it seemed. The Federalists, supporters of the Constitution, countered with a series of essays, now known as the Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and Madison, defending the document and the need for a strong central government.
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Federalist Papers and the defence of the Constitution
The Federalist Papers were a series of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the collective pseudonym "Publius". They were written to promote the ratification of the Constitution of the United States, specifically in New York, where opposition to the Constitution was strong. The first of these essays was published in late 1787, and they were circulated and reprinted throughout the states as the ratification process unfolded.
The Federalist Papers were written in response to a series of essays published in the New York press under the pseudonym "Cato", which warned citizens that the Constitution was not all that it seemed. The authors of the Federalist Papers, who were members of the Constitutional Convention, aimed to launch a measured defence and extensive explanation of the proposed Constitution to the people of New York. They probed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and argued for the need for an energetic national government.
The Federalist Papers explained particular provisions of the Constitution in detail and are thus often used today to interpret the intentions of those who drafted the Constitution. They argued against having a Bill of Rights, fearing that it would limit the people's rights. They also addressed the concerns of Anti-Federalists, who believed that the Constitution consolidated too much power in the hands of Congress at the expense of the states, and that the unitary president resembled a monarch.
The Federalist Papers played a significant role in the debate over the newly written Constitution, which deeply divided public opinion. The Federalists, or supporters of the Constitution, believed in a centralized republic, while the Anti-Federalists favoured stronger individual states. The Federalist Papers are considered by some to be the best exposition of the Constitution and the principles of government.
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The Constitution's ratification
The road to the ratification of the United States Constitution was a long and arduous one, with fierce debates and deep divisions of opinion. The Constitution was drafted in the summer of 1787, and it needed to be ratified by at least nine of the 13 state legislatures. The Federalists, supporters of the Constitution, argued for a centralized republic with a strong central government. However, the Anti-Federalists opposed them, believing that the Constitution consolidated too much power in Congress and the national government, resembling the old British regime and thus robbing the states of their power.
The Anti-Federalists, including Elbridge Gerry, Edmund Randolph, and George Mason, refused to sign the document, and their arguments gained traction in state legislatures across the country. They believed that the liberties of the people were best protected by state governments, and that the unitary executive branch resembled a monarch. They also wanted a Bill of Rights to be included in the Constitution, which the Federalists opposed. The Federalists, including Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, countered with a series of essays, now known as the Federalist Papers, defending the need for an energetic national government.
Despite the opposition, the Federalists gained early victories, with Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Georgia voting in favor of ratification. However, there were setbacks, with New Hampshire and Rhode Island initially turning down the Constitution. The vote was close in several states, with New York approving by only three votes, Massachusetts by 19 votes, and Virginia by 10 votes. The Federalists faced significant opposition in these crucial states, with Anti-Federalists expressing concerns over a lack of protections for individuals.
The debate over ratification highlighted the contrasting visions of the American republic and democracy. The Federalists believed in the need for a centralized government, while the Anti-Federalists favored stronger individual states. The process of ratification was a complex and contentious one, with the Federalists ultimately succeeding in gaining approval for the Constitution, shaping the future of the nation.
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The Constitution's impact on state power
The Constitution of the United States was drafted in the summer of 1787, and its ratification was uncertain. The document needed to be ratified by at least nine of the 13 state legislatures. The Constitution's impact on state power was a significant concern for many, and two factions soon emerged: the Federalists who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists who opposed it.
The Anti-Federalists believed that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government at the expense of the states. They argued that the new Constitution consolidated power in the hands of Congress, and that the unitary executive resembled a monarch. They believed that the liberties of the people were best protected when power resided in state governments rather than a federal one. They also wanted a Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution, to protect the rights of citizens. The Federalists opposed this, arguing that a list of rights would be incomplete and would be interpreted as exhaustive, thus enlarging federal power. However, the Anti-Federalists persisted, and several state ratification conventions refused to ratify without a more specific list of protections. This resulted in the addition of the Ninth Amendment, which states that individuals have fundamental rights beyond those explicitly listed in the Constitution.
The Federalists, on the other hand, supported a strong central government and believed that a centralized republic was the best solution for the future. They argued that the Articles of Confederation were inadequate and that an energetic national government was needed. Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison wrote a series of essays known as the Federalist Papers, defending the Constitution and addressing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
The debate over the Constitution's impact on state power was fierce, and the outcome of the ratification process was uncertain. In the end, the Constitution only narrowly won approval, with close votes in several states, including New York, Massachusetts, and Virginia. The concerns over state power reflected fears that a new national government would create too much centralized power, depriving citizens in the various states of their ability to make their own decisions.
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The Constitution's resemblance to the British monarchy
The United States Constitution of 1787 was drafted at a time when the American people sought a new form of government to replace the failed Articles of Confederation. However, the process of ratifying the Constitution was contentious, with Anti-Federalists arguing that it consolidated too much power in a central government, resembling the British monarchy.
The Anti-Federalists, who favoured stronger individual states, believed that the Constitution's unitary executive and the office of the president were eerily similar to a monarchy. They feared that this concentration of power in a national government would deprive the states of their autonomy and decision-making authority, akin to the centralised British regime.
The British monarchy, also known as the monarchy of the United Kingdom, is a constitutional monarchy with a long history. It is a system where the head of state, typically a hereditary monarch, inherits their position and holds it until death or abdication. While the monarch is formally the head of the government, their powers are regulated by the British Constitution and exercised within constraints. The monarch's role includes functions such as bestowing honours, approving laws, and appointing the prime minister, who exercises power on behalf of the monarch.
The transition to a constitutional monarchy in the UK occurred during the reign of Queen Victoria, who became the first Empress of India in 1876. The monarch's powers are derived from an ancient legal source known as the 'Royal Prerogative', which includes the authority to appoint and dismiss ministers, regulate the civil service, issue passports, declare war, and make peace. However, these powers are now largely delegated to ministers or exercised based on the advice of the Prime Minister and other ministers to ensure alignment with democratic principles.
In summary, the Anti-Federalists' opposition to the US Constitution stemmed from their concern that it resembled the British monarchy in its concentration of power in a central government. They believed that the liberties of the people were better protected by strong individual states rather than a unitary executive. Meanwhile, the British monarchy has evolved into a constitutional monarchy, where the monarch's powers are constrained by democratic principles and exercised in consultation with elected officials.
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Frequently asked questions
The Anti-Federalists, who opposed the Constitution, believed that the new Constitution consolidated too much power in the hands of Congress, at the expense of the states. They also believed that the unitary president resembled a monarch and that this resemblance would eventually produce courts of intrigue in the nation’s capital. They also believed that the liberties of the people were best protected when power resided in state governments, as opposed to a federal one. Lastly, they believed that without a Bill of Rights, the federal government would become tyrannous.
In the press, an anonymous writer in the New York Journal, under the pen name "Cato", warned citizens that the document was not all that it seemed. This sparked a debate over the newly written Constitution. In New York, the Constitution was also under siege in the press by a series of essays signed "Cato".
The Federalist Papers was a series of 85 essays, most of which were written by Alexander Hamilton, with help from John Jay and Madison. These essays probed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for an energetic national government.
The opposition to the Constitution reflected the fears that a new national government, much like the British monarchy, created too much centralized power and deprived citizens in the various states of the ability to make their own decisions. The Anti-Federalists mobilized against the Constitution in state legislatures across the country and made ratification contingent on a Bill of Rights.
