Federalists' Stance: The Constitution's Ultimate Defenders

The Federalists, supporters of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, believed that the new Constitution was required to safeguard the liberty and independence that the American Revolution had created. They argued that the Constitution would protect the rights of the people through the separation of powers among the three branches of government. To ensure the adoption of the Constitution, Federalists like James Madison promised to add amendments specifically protecting individual liberties, including the First Amendment, which became the Bill of Rights. To spread their message, Federalists published a series of 85 articles in New York City newspapers, advocating for a stronger central government and addressing the concerns of Anti-Federalists, who feared that a concentration of central authority might lead to a loss of individual and state rights.

Explore related products

The U.S. Constitution and Other Writings (Leather-bound Classics)

$13.21 $24.99

The Anti-Federalist Papers and the Constitutional Convention Debates (Signet Classics)

$7.38 $8.95

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

$18.65 $23

The Federalist & The Anti-Federalist Papers: Complete Collection: Including the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Important Documents by the Founding Fathers & more

$0.99 $20.4

The Debate on the Constitution: Federalist and Anti-Federalist Speeches, Articles, and Letters During the Struggle over Ratification 1787-1788 ( Complete )

$15

The Federalist Papers (Signet Classics)

$7.23 $8.95

Federalists believed the new Constitution was required to safeguard the liberty and independence from the American Revolution

Federalists believed that the new Constitution was required to safeguard the liberty and independence that the American Revolution had created. They saw their most important role as defending the social gains of the Revolution. Federalists, including James Madison, promised to add amendments to the Constitution that would protect individual liberties. These amendments became the Bill of Rights.

The Federalists argued that the Constitution, with its system of checks and balances, was in effect a Bill of Rights. They also pointed to existing protections in Article I, Sections 9 and 10, which limited Congress and the states. They believed that the new Constitution did not give the government the authority to suppress individual liberties, and that it was impossible to list all the rights afforded to Americans, so it was best to list none.

The Federalists' position was that the greatest threat to the future of the United States was not the abuse of central power, but the excesses of democracy, as evidenced by popular disturbances like Shays' Rebellion and the pro-debtor policies of many states. They believed that for the nation to thrive, democracy needed to be constrained in favor of a stronger central government.

To promote their cause, Federalists published a series of 85 articles in New York City newspapers advocating for the ratification of the Constitution. These articles, written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay under the pseudonym Publius, were later compiled and published as The Federalist in 1788. The Federalists were well-organised, well-funded, and had strong support in the press, which helped them to ultimately prevail in state ratification debates.

Federalists supported a strong central government

Federalists, including influential figures like Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, wrote and published a series of 85 articles in New York City newspapers, advocating for the ratification of the Constitution and a stronger central government. These papers, known as The Federalist, were compiled and published in 1788 and articulated the Federalists' position in favor of the Constitution. They argued that the separation of powers among the three branches of government protected the rights of the people, as no single branch could assume control over the others.

To address concerns about individual liberties, the Federalists promised to add amendments specifically protecting these rights, including what would become the Bill of Rights. They also argued that the Constitution, with its checks and balances, was effectively a Bill of Rights and that listing specific rights was unnecessary and impractical.

The Federalists' support for a strong central government extended to their monetary and foreign policies. They established monetary policies that gave more power to the federal government, such as assuming national and state debts and passing tax laws. In foreign policy, they favored England over France, a stance that contributed to their decline in popularity and the rise of the Jeffersonian Republicans.

Federalists argued the new Constitution already contained protections for individual liberties

The Federalists, comprising supporters of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, were faced with strong opposition from the Anti-Federalists. The Federalists argued that the new Constitution was required to safeguard the liberty and independence that the American Revolution had created. They saw their most important role as defending the social gains of the Revolution.

The Federalists published a series of 85 articles in New York City newspapers, advocating for the ratification of the Constitution. These articles, collectively known as the Federalist Papers, were written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay under the pseudonym "Publius". The Federalist Papers stressed the need for an adequate central government and argued that the republican form of government could be adapted to the large expanse of territory and widely divergent interests in the United States.

When challenged over the lack of individual liberties, the Federalists argued that the Constitution already contained protections for individual liberties in Article I, Sections 9 and 10, which respectively limited Congress and the states. They also argued that the entire Constitution, with its institutional restraints and checks and balances, was effectively a Bill of Rights. The Federalists believed that because it was impossible to list all the rights afforded to Americans, it was best to list none.

The Federalists promised to add amendments specifically protecting individual liberties, and these amendments, including the First Amendment, became the Bill of Rights. They successfully articulated their position in favour of the adoption of the Constitution, and their efforts led to the ratification of the Constitution by nine states, the minimum number required for it to become the law of the land.

Explore related products

The Federalist Papers (Penguin Civic Classics)

$11.01 $15

The Federalist Papers (Dover Thrift Editions: American History)

$7.14 $8

The U.S. Constitution: Explained--Clause by Clause--for Every American Today

$9.97 $12

Documents of Revolution: Common Sense, The Complete Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers, The Articles of Confederation, The Articles of Confederation, The U. S. Constitution, The Bill of Rights

$26.99 $26.99

The Federalist Papers: A Collection of Essays Written in Favour of the New Constitution

$17.99 $17.99

The Original Argument: The Federalists' Case for the Constitution, Adapted for the 21st Century

$3.57 $16

Federalists were well-organised and well-funded, with strong support from newspapers

The Federalists were a well-organised, well-funded political group with strong support from newspapers. They were supporters of the newly written US Constitution, and their name was first adopted by those advocating for its ratification. Federalists believed that the Constitution was required to safeguard the liberty and independence that the American Revolution had created.

Federalists were able to utilise the printed word to their advantage, with most newspapers supporting their political plan. They published articles and pamphlets explaining why the people should approve the Constitution. The Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, were published in New York newspapers under the pseudonym "Publius". These papers laid out the ideology of the Federalists during the creation of the US Constitution. They were immediately recognised as a powerful defence of the new Constitution, advocating for its ratification and stressing the need for a strong central government.

The Federalists were also able to enlist the support of talented leaders and celebrities of the era, such as Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, who favoured the Constitution. They were well-funded, which allowed them to publish their ideas and build momentum toward the nine states they needed to ratify the Constitution.

The Federalists faced opposition from the Anti-Federalists, who argued for a stronger state government and feared the concentration of central authority. The Anti-Federalists wrote their own essays and mounted effective opposition through debates, but the Federalists ultimately prevailed in the state ratification debates. The Federalists were able to successfully articulate their position in favour of the adoption of the Constitution, and their accomplishments included organising the administrative machinery of the national government and establishing traditions of federal fiscal integrity.

Federalists believed democracy needed to be constrained in favour of a stronger central government

The Federalists, comprising supporters of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, believed that democracy needed to be constrained in favour of a stronger central government. They saw the greatest threat to the future of the United States not in the abuse of central power, but in the excesses of democracy. This view was shaped by events such as Shays' Rebellion and the pro-debtor policies of many states.

To promote their cause, the Federalists published a series of 85 articles in New York City newspapers, advocating for the ratification of the Constitution. These articles, collectively known as "The Federalist Papers", were written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the pseudonym "Publius". The Federalist Papers stressed the need for an adequate central government and argued that the republican form of government could be adapted to the large expanse of territory and diverse interests in the United States. They also promised to add amendments specifically protecting individual liberties, such as the First Amendment, which became the Bill of Rights.

The Federalists believed that the Constitution was necessary to safeguard the liberty and independence that the American Revolution had brought about. They saw their role as defending the social gains of the Revolution and creating a "republican remedy for the diseases most incident to republican government". The Federalists were well-organised, well-funded, and had strong support in the press, which helped them successfully articulate their position.

In contrast, the Anti-Federalists, who opposed the ratification of the Constitution, argued that a strong national government was too similar to the monarchy from which the colonists had fought to be free. They also demanded explicit declarations of their rights under the new government, which they believed were not adequately protected in the Constitution. The debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists centred around the federal principle of balancing national and state powers, with the Federalists ultimately prevailing in state ratification debates.

Frequently asked questions