Opposition To The Constitution: The Anti-Federalists' Stance

The Anti-Federalists were a late-18th-century political movement that opposed the creation of a stronger US federal government and the ratification of the 1787 Constitution. The group, which included small farmers, landowners, shopkeepers, and labourers, believed that the new Constitution consolidated too much power in the hands of Congress, resembling a monarchy, and that the liberties of the people were best protected when power resided in state governments. They also believed that without a Bill of Rights, the federal government would become tyrannous. The Anti-Federalists dominated the New York Convention, with Patrick Henry as an outspoken member, and their opposition was an important factor leading to the adoption of the First Amendment and the other nine amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights.

Explore related products

What the Anti-Federalists Were For: The Political Thought of the Opponents of the Constitution

$18.65 $23

Revolutionary Brotherhood: Freemasonry and the Transformation of the American Social Order, 1730-1840 (Published by the Omohundro Institute of Early American ... and the University of North Carolina Press)

$16.19 $29.99

Conspiracy Theories in American History: An Encyclopedia [2 volumes]

$201

Allegiance to Liberty: The Changing Face of Patriots, Militias, and Political Violence in America

$53 $58.5

For the People: American Populist Movements from the Revolution to the 1850s

$25.99 $39.95

The Constitution of the United States and The Declaration of Independence

$1.99 $14.95

Anti-Federalists believed the unitary president resembled a monarch

The Anti-Federalists were a late-18th-century political movement that opposed the creation of a stronger U.S. federal government and later opposed the ratification of the 1787 Constitution. Led by Patrick Henry of Virginia, the Anti-Federalists believed that the unitary president, then a novelty, eerily resembled a monarch. They feared that the position of president might evolve into a monarchy, and that this resemblance would eventually produce courts of intrigue in the nation's capital.

The Anti-Federalists believed that the new Constitution consolidated too much power in the hands of Congress, at the expense of states. They advocated for a more decentralized form of government with greater protections for individual rights and stronger representation for the states. They believed that the liberties of the people were best protected when power resided in state governments, as opposed to a federal one. They also believed that a large central government would not serve the interests of small towns and rural areas, as opposed to the urban interests that most Federalist delegates aligned with.

The Anti-Federalists were composed of diverse elements, including those who opposed the Constitution because they thought that a stronger government threatened the sovereignty and prestige of the states, localities, or individuals. Some saw in the proposed government a new centralized and "monarchic" power in disguise that would replicate the cast-off governance of Great Britain. They believed that the Constitution, as written, would be oppressive.

The Anti-Federalists' opposition to ratifying the Constitution was a powerful force in the origin of the Bill of Rights to protect Americans' civil liberties. They believed that without a Bill of Rights, the federal government would become tyrannous. Their arguments influenced the formation of the Bill of Rights, a list of 10 constitutional amendments that secure the basic rights and privileges of American citizens.

They believed the liberties of the people were best protected by state governments

The Anti-Federalists were a late-18th-century political movement that opposed the creation of a stronger US federal government and later opposed the ratification of the 1787 Constitution. Led by Patrick Henry of Virginia, the Anti-Federalists believed that the liberties of the people were best protected when power resided in state governments, as opposed to a federal one. They believed that the new Constitution consolidated too much power in the hands of Congress, at the expense of the states.

The Anti-Federalists' opposition to the Constitution stemmed from their concern that the position of president, then a novelty, might evolve into a monarchy. They also believed that the unitary president eerily resembled a monarch and that this resemblance would eventually produce courts of intrigue in the nation's capital. Furthermore, they argued that without a Bill of Rights, the federal government would become tyrannous.

The Anti-Federalists included small farmers and landowners, shopkeepers, and labourers. In national politics, they favoured strong state governments, a weak central government, the direct election of government officials, short term limits for officeholders, accountability by officeholders to popular majorities, and the strengthening of individual liberties.

The Anti-Federalists' arguments created a powerful current against adopting the Constitution in each of the states. They dominated the New York Convention three to one, and their efforts were not entirely in vain. Their influence helped lead to the enactment of the Bill of Rights, which became the most important part of the Constitution for most Americans.

They believed the federal government would become tyrannous without a Bill of Rights

The Anti-Federalists were a late-18th-century political movement that opposed the creation of a stronger US federal government and later opposed the ratification of the 1787 Constitution. The Constitution, drafted in the summer of 1787, needed to be ratified by at least nine of the 13 state legislatures. The Anti-Federalists believed that the new Constitution consolidated too much power in the hands of Congress, at the expense of the states. They believed that the unitary president resembled a monarch and that this resemblance would eventually produce courts of intrigue in the nation's capital.

The Anti-Federalists believed that the liberties of the people were best protected when power resided in state governments, as opposed to a federal one. They argued that without a Bill of Rights, the federal government would become tyrannous. They wanted a bill of rights to be included in the Constitution to secure the basic rights and privileges of American citizens. The Bill of Rights was fashioned after the English Bill of Rights and George Mason's Virginia Declaration of Rights. It includes the right to free speech, the right to a speedy trial, the right to due process under the law, and protections against cruel and unusual punishments.

The Anti-Federalists dominated the New York Convention with a three-to-one majority. They published essays under pseudonyms like Brutus, Cato, and the Federal Farmer in New York newspapers critiquing the Constitution. Although they did not coordinate their efforts, a coherent set of principles about government and opposition to the proposed Constitution emerged. Alexander Hamilton, who passionately defended the Constitution, noted that the "artillery of [the Constitution's] opponents makes some impression".

The Federalists, supporters of the Constitution, argued that additional amendments were unnecessary because most states already had bills of rights. James Madison, who also supported the Constitution, argued against having a Bill of Rights, fearing that they would limit the people's rights. Despite their efforts, the Anti-Federalists were unsuccessful in their quest to prevent the adoption of the Constitution. However, their influence helped lead to the enactment of the Bill of Rights.

Explore related products

Nullification Objections: Dismantling the Opposition

$6.99 $14.95

The Constitution of the United States of America: The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights

$9.99 $9.99

Backlash Presidents: From Transformative to Reactionary Leaders in American History (Princeton Studies in American Politics)

$29.95 $29.95

Decius's Letters on the Opposition to the New Constitution in Virginia, 1789.

$20.75

Les Principes De La Foi Sur Le Gouvernement De L'Eglise, En Opposition Avec La Constitution Civile Du Clerge: Ou Refutation Du Developpement De L'Opinion De M. Camus (1791)

$32.32

Parliamentary Opposition in Old and New Democracies (Library of Legislative Studies)

$58.89 $61.99

They believed the new Constitution consolidated too much power in Congress

The Anti-Federalists were a late-18th-century political movement that opposed the creation of a stronger US federal government and later opposed the ratification of the 1787 Constitution. The group included small farmers and landowners, shopkeepers, and labourers. They believed that the new Constitution consolidated too much power in Congress, at the expense of the states. They argued that the liberties of the people were best protected when power resided in state governments, as opposed to a federal one.

The Anti-Federalists' views on the concentration of power in Congress were shaped by their broader beliefs about the role of government. They favoured strong state governments, a weak central government, the direct election of government officials, short term limits for officeholders, accountability by officeholders to popular majorities, and the strengthening of individual liberties. They saw the unitary executive of the presidency as a potential monarchy and believed that this would eventually produce courts of intrigue in the nation's capital.

The Anti-Federalists' opposition to the Constitution centred on their fear of a powerful national government and the absence of a bill of rights. They believed that without a Bill of Rights, the federal government would become tyrannous. This concern was shared by many Americans, and the necessity or desirability of a bill of rights was almost universally felt. The original draft of the Constitution declared all state laws subservient to federal ones, and created a king-like office in the presidency.

The Anti-Federalists published essays under pseudonyms like Brutus, Cato, and the Federal Farmer in New York newspapers critiquing the Constitution. Although they did not coordinate their efforts, a coherent set of principles about government and opposition to the proposed Constitution emerged. Their arguments created a powerful current against adopting the Constitution in each of the states. In state legislatures across the country, opponents of the Constitution spoke out against the extensive powers it granted the federal government.

The Anti-Federalists were ultimately unsuccessful in preventing the adoption of the Constitution, but their efforts were not in vain. Their influence helped lead to the enactment of the Bill of Rights, which became the most important part of the Constitution for most Americans. The Bill of Rights is a list of 10 constitutional amendments that secure the basic rights and privileges of American citizens, including the right to free speech, the right to a speedy trial, the right to due process under law, and protections against cruel and unusual punishments.

Anti-Federalists included small farmers, landowners, shopkeepers, and labourers

The Anti-Federalists were a late-18th-century political movement that opposed the creation of a stronger US federal government and the ratification of the 1787 Constitution. The Anti-Federalists included small farmers, landowners, shopkeepers, and labourers. Led by Patrick Henry of Virginia, they believed that the new Constitution consolidated too much power in the hands of Congress, at the expense of the states.

The Anti-Federalists believed that the unitary president resembled a monarch and that this resemblance would eventually produce courts of intrigue in the nation’s capital. They believed that the liberties of the people were best protected when power resided in state governments, as opposed to a federal one. They also believed that without a Bill of Rights, the federal government would become tyrannous.

The Anti-Federalists dominated the New York Convention with a majority of three to one. They published essays under pseudonyms like Brutus, Cato, and the Federal Farmer in New York newspapers critiquing the Constitution. Although they did not coordinate their efforts, a coherent set of principles about government and opposition to the proposed Constitution emerged.

The Federalists, on the other hand, were those who supported the Constitution. The political division between the two groups emerged in 1792, with supporters of Alexander Hamilton's policies forming the Federalist Party, and supporters of Thomas Jefferson's views forming the Jeffersonian Party, also known as the Republican or Democratic-Republican Party.

Frequently asked questions