Jonah Patel
The Federalists were supporters of the ratification of the US Constitution, which was drafted in Philadelphia in 1787. They believed that a stronger national government was necessary for the country's survival, and that the Constitution provided a system of checks and balances, with built-in safeguards to prevent any one branch or person from becoming too powerful. The Federalists were well-organised, well-funded, and had the support of many talented leaders of the era, including Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. They also made effective use of the printed word, with newspapers publishing articles and pamphlets explaining why the Constitution should be ratified. The Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, were particularly influential in urging New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution. Despite facing opposition from Anti-Federalists, who argued that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government at the expense of state and local governments, the Federalists were able to secure ratification of the Constitution in 1788.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Federalist leaders | Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington |
| Federalist beliefs | The greatest threat to the future of the United States was not the abuse of central power, but the excesses of democracy |
| Federalist arguments | The Constitution provided a system of checks and balances, where each of the three branches is able to check or limit the other branches |
| Federalist strategies | Well-organized, well-funded, and made careful use of the printed word |
| Ratification requirements | Nine of the thirteen states had to agree to adopt the Constitution |
| Ratification dates | Drafted in 1787, ratified in 1788, went into effect in 1789 |
| Ratifying states | Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, New York |
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What You'll Learn
Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers were a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, that appeared in New York newspapers, primarily the Independent Journal and the New York Packet, between October 1787 and August 1788. The essays urged New York delegates to ratify the United States Constitution, which was drafted in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787.
The Federalists, who supported ratification, believed that the greatest threat to the future of the United States was not in the abuse of central power, but in the excesses of democracy. They believed that a stronger national government was necessary after the failed Articles of Confederation. They argued that the Constitution provided a system of checks and balances, where each of the three branches is able to check or limit the other branches. They also believed that the federal courts would protect citizens from government abuse and guarantee their liberty.
The Anti-Federalists, who did not support ratification, feared the power of the national government and believed that state legislatures could better protect their freedoms. They argued that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government, at the expense of the state and local governments. They also believed that the federal government would be too far removed to represent the average citizen and that the nation was too large for the national government to respond to the concerns of people on a state and local basis.
The Federalist Papers were instrumental in swaying delegates to ratification conventions in many states. The Federalists also had other advantages, such as the support of celebrities like Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, good organization, and funding.
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Checks and balances
The Federalists and Anti-Federalists had differing views on the proposed US Constitution, with the former supporting ratification and the latter opposing it. The Federalists believed that the nation might not survive without the passage of the Constitution, and that a stronger national government was necessary after the failed Articles of Confederation. They argued that the Constitution provided a system of checks and balances, where each of the three branches could check or limit the other branches. This, they believed, would prevent any one branch or person from becoming too powerful.
The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, argued that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government, taking away power from state and local governments. They believed that the federal government would be too far removed to represent the average citizen and address their concerns. They also worried that the original text of the Constitution did not contain a bill of rights, which they wanted to guarantee protection for certain basic liberties, such as freedom of speech and trial by jury.
To gain support for the Constitution, the Federalists promised to add a bill of rights if the Anti-Federalists would vote for the Constitution. They also argued that the federal courts had limited jurisdiction, leaving many areas of the law to the state and local courts. The Federalists felt that the new federal courts were necessary to provide checks and balances on the other two branches of government, protecting citizens from government abuse and guaranteeing their liberty.
The Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, played a significant role in urging New Yorkers to ratify the Constitution. These essays were published in New York newspapers, primarily the Independent Journal and the New York Packet, between October 1787 and August 1788. The Federalists were well-organised, well-funded, and made careful use of the printed word, which helped them gain support for the Constitution.
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Support from influential figures
The Federalists were supported by some of the most influential figures of the era. The only two national-level celebrities of the period, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, both favoured the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, who were among the most talented leaders of the time with the most experience in national-level work, also supported the Federalists. Hamilton, Jay, and Madison wrote a series of eighty-five essays, later compiled as The Federalist and now known as The Federalist Papers, arguing for a strong federal government and support of the Constitution. These essays were originally published in newspapers in New York and other states under the name of Publius, a supporter of the Roman Republic.
The Federalists were also supported by the majority of newspapers, which published articles and pamphlets explaining why the people should approve the Constitution. The Federalist Papers are now used to help interpret the intentions of those who drafted the Constitution, as Hamilton and Madison were each members of the Constitutional Convention.
The Federalists were well-organised and well-funded, and they made careful use of the printed word. They were able to build momentum toward the nine states they needed to win ratification, with five states (Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) having ratified the Constitution by mid-January 1788.
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Promise of a bill of rights
The Federalists and Anti-Federalists had opposing views on the Constitution, with the former supporting ratification and the latter against it. The Federalists believed that a stronger national government was necessary and that the nation might not survive without the passage of the Constitution. They argued that the Constitution provided a system of checks and balances, with each of the three branches able to limit the others' powers.
The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, feared that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government at the expense of the state and local governments. They believed that the federal government would be too far removed to represent the average citizen effectively and protect their freedoms. They also argued that the original text of the Constitution did not contain a bill of rights, which they saw as essential to guarantee certain basic liberties such as freedom of speech and trial by jury.
The Federalists recognised that they needed nine states' approval for ratification to succeed. They knew that their main opposition would come from Anti-Federalists in large and powerful states, including Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia. During the debate in Massachusetts, the Federalists were forced to promise to consider amendments protecting the liberties of the people after ratification. This strategy was also used in Virginia, where the Federalists promised to add a bill of rights similar to the Virginia Declaration of Rights after ratification. On June 25, 1788, Virginia became the tenth state to approve the Constitution.
The approval of New York was the last major hurdle. Facing strong opposition in that state, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote a series of essays arguing for a strong federal government and supporting the Constitution. New York eventually approved the Constitution on July 26, 1788, with the promise that the First Congress would add rights to the Constitution through the amendment process.
The Federalists' promise to add a bill of rights after ratification was a crucial strategy in gaining the support of Anti-Federalists and securing the ratification of the Constitution. The Bill of Rights, consisting of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, was added in 1791.
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Anti-Federalist weaknesses
The Anti-Federalists had several weaknesses that contributed to their defeat in the ratification debate. Firstly, they lacked a unified and organised group structure. The authors of the Anti-Federalist Papers, which included Cato and other incognito writers, did not work together as a group. Instead, they used individual print media to spread their ideas. This lack of coordination may have hindered their ability to mount a cohesive and effective opposition campaign.
Secondly, the Anti-Federalists were at a disadvantage in terms of the support they received from influential individuals and states. While they had some prominent figures like Patrick Henry, a wealthy merchant and landowner from New York, on their side, the Federalists had the support of influential states such as Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, which quickly ratified the Constitution. The Anti-Federalists faced significant opposition from larger states like Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia, which were crucial in the ratification process.
Thirdly, the Anti-Federalists' arguments were not as well-received or widely disseminated as those of the Federalists. The Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, are well-known even today, while the Anti-Federalist Papers are less recognised. The Federalist essays are considered to have played a significant role in swaying delegates to ratification conventions in many states. Additionally, the Federalists were able to promise amendments to protect individual liberties, which helped gain support and compromise.
Lastly, the Anti-Federalists' fears of a strong central government and the loss of individual liberties may have been seen as unfounded or exaggerated by some. The Federalists argued that the national government would only have the powers specifically granted to it under the Constitution and that the document included built-in safeguards to prevent the concentration of power. The Federalists also believed that a stronger national government was necessary for the country's survival, especially after the failures of the Articles of Confederation.
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Frequently asked questions
The Federalists were trying to get nine out of thirteen states to agree to adopt the Constitution. They faced opposition from the Anti-Federalists, who believed that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government, and not enough to state and local governments.
The Federalists believed that the nation might not survive without the passage of the Constitution, and that a stronger national government was necessary. They also argued that the Constitution provided a system of checks and balances, where each of the three branches could limit the power of the other branches.
The Anti-Federalists feared that the federal government would be too powerful and would favour the rich over the average citizen. They also believed that the federal courts would be too far away to provide justice to the average citizen.
The Federalists had the support of many talented leaders of the era, including Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. They were also well-organised, well-funded, and made effective use of the printed word, with newspapers publishing articles and pamphlets in support of ratification.
To gain the support of the Anti-Federalists, the Federalists promised to add a bill of rights if they would vote for the Constitution. The Federalists also argued that the federal government only had the powers specifically granted to it and that the federal courts had limited jurisdiction.
