Eleanor Finch
The proponents of the Constitution were called Federalists. The Federalists were the supporters of the United States Constitution and a strong federal government during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They believed in the ratification of the Constitution as it gave the federal government more power to regulate commerce, levy taxes, and maintain a standing army. They also believed that a strong federal government would help to establish a stable and unified country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Federalists |
| Supporters of | United States Constitution |
| Beliefs | A strong federal government |
| Beliefs | The federal government should have more power to regulate commerce, levy taxes, and maintain a standing army |
| Beliefs | A strong federal government would help to establish a stable and unified country |
| Beliefs | Power should be divided between a central government and state governments |
| Supporters included | Large landowners |
| Supporters included | Merchants and artisans living in large coastal cities |
| Supporters included | Farmers near the coast |
| Opponents | Anti-Federalists |
| Anti-Federalist beliefs | The Constitution would consolidate all power in a national government, robbing the states of the power to make their own decisions |
| Anti-Federalist beliefs | Wealthy aristocrats would run the new national government, and the elite would not represent ordinary citizens |
| Anti-Federalist beliefs | The Constitution did not contain a bill of rights |
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What You'll Learn
Supporters of the Constitution were called Federalists
Federalists were very organised and offered convincing arguments in their speeches, pamphlets, and debates. Some Federalists were large landowners who wanted property protection from a strong central government. They also included merchants and artisans living in large coastal cities who wanted a federal government that could impose taxes on foreign goods to help their businesses. Farmers near the coast wanted a strong central government that could consistently regulate trade.
The Federalists were also known as the nationalists, and they were led by Madison. They were able to persuade members that any new constitution should be ratified through conventions of the people and not by Congress and the state legislatures. James Madison, one of the leading Federalists, wrote the tenth essay in The Federalist Papers, often called Federalist No. 10, which is one of the most famous. In it, he argued that a large republic provided the best defence against the tumult of direct democracy.
Alexander Hamilton was another leading Federalist. He presented his own ideal plan of government, proposing a model similar to the British government, with an executive to serve during good behaviour or for life with veto power over all laws, a senate with members serving during good behaviour, and a legislature with the power to pass "all laws whatsoever".
Other key Federalists included James Wilson, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay.
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Federalists believed in a strong federal government
The proponents of the Constitution were called Federalists. The Federalists were supporters of the United States Constitution and a strong federal government during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Federalists pointed out that without a strong national government, states might impose tariffs on each other, creating economic barriers and conflict. They believed that a unified government would prevent such disputes and lead to a more prosperous nation. They also believed that a strong federal government would help establish a stable and unified country.
Alexander Hamilton, one of the leading Federalists, supported the ratification of the Constitution. In the famous Federalist No. 10, James Madison, another leading Federalist, argued that a large republic provided the best defense against the tumult of direct democracy. He believed that compromises would be reached in a large republic and citizens would be represented by their chosen representatives.
Federalists approved of the Constitution and believed that it would enable the government to effectively balance the interests of individual states with national needs. They saw the Constitution as a solution to the challenges faced under the Articles of Confederation and a way to promote stability, cooperation, and national defense.
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Federalists believed in the ratification of the Constitution
The proponents of the United States Constitution were called Federalists. They believed in the ratification of the Constitution as it would give more power to the federal government to regulate commerce, levy taxes, and maintain a standing army. Federalists also believed that a strong federal government would help establish a stable and unified country. They argued that the federal courts would protect citizens from government abuse and guarantee their liberty.
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 national government would only have the powers specifically granted by the Constitution and that there would be a separation of powers between the three equal branches of government.
The Federalist Papers, a collection of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, defended the Constitution. Madison, in Federalist No. 10, addressed the problems of political parties ("factions") and argued that a large republic provided the best defense against the tumult of direct democracy. He believed that compromises would be reached in a large republic and that citizens would be represented by their chosen representatives.
Federalists also believed that the Constitution would lead to a stable and unified country. They supported a centralized republic, arguing that it provided the best solution for the future. They saw the Constitution as a way to establish a strong federal government that could regulate commerce, levy taxes, and maintain a standing army.
Additionally, Federalists wanted to protect the rights of Southern slaveholders. They agreed to the three-fifths rule, which stated that each slave counted as three-fifths of a White person for representation purposes. This gave the Southern states more political power.
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Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution
The proponents of the US Constitution were called Federalists. They believed in the ratification of the Constitution as it gave the federal government more power to regulate commerce, levy taxes, and maintain a standing army. They also believed that a strong federal government would help establish a stable and unified country.
The Anti-Federalists opposed the ratification of the 1787 US Constitution. They believed that the new national government would be too powerful and threaten individual liberties. 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. They also believed that the Constitution did not contain a bill of rights.
The Anti-Federalists included small farmers, landowners, shopkeepers, and laborers. They favored 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 opposition of the Anti-Federalists was a powerful force in the origin of the Bill of Rights, which was created to protect Americans' civil liberties. Their opposition led to the adoption of the First Amendment and the other nine amendments that constitute the Bill of Rights.
The political split between Anti-Federalists and Federalists began in the summer of 1787 when 55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention meeting in Philadelphia to draw up a new plan of government. The Federalists had a plan—the new Constitution—while the Anti-Federalists did not, which made it easy for the Federalists to frame the ratification fight as a battle between a new Constitution and the deeply flawed Articles of Confederation.
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Anti-Federalists believed the Constitution would consolidate power in a national government
The supporters of the United States Constitution and a strong federal government were called Federalists. They believed in the ratification of the Constitution as it gave the federal government more power to regulate commerce, levy taxes, and maintain a standing army. They also believed that a strong federal government would help to establish a stable and unified country.
The Federalists were pitted against the Anti-Federalists, who believed that the Constitution would consolidate power in a national government. The Anti-Federalists generally agreed on a few things. Firstly, they believed that the new Constitution consolidated too much power in the hands of Congress, at the expense of the states. They thought 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.
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 were chiefly concerned with too much power invested in the national government at the expense of the states. 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.
The Anti-Federalists also argued that wealthy aristocrats would run the new national government, and that the elite would not represent ordinary citizens. They believed that the rich would monopolize power and use the new government to formulate policies that benefited their class—a development that would also undermine local state elites.
To accommodate Anti-Federalist concerns of excessive federal power, the Bill of Rights also reserves any power that is not given to the federal government to the states and to the people. Since its adoption, the Bill of Rights has become the most important part of the Constitution for most Americans.
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Frequently asked questions
The proponents of the US Constitution were called Federalists.
Federalists believed in the ratification of the Constitution as it gave the federal government more power to regulate commerce, levy taxes, and maintain a standing army. They also believed that a strong federal government would help to establish a stable and unified country.
Some of the notable Federalists include James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay.
Opponents of the Constitution were called Anti-Federalists.
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