Federalists Vs. Anti-Federalists: Who Approved The Constitution?

The Federalists and Anti-Federalists were two opposing political factions in the United States during the late 18th century, with vastly different views on the role of the federal government and the nature of the US Constitution. The Federalists, who included big property owners, conservative small farmers, businessmen, wealthy merchants, and professionals, advocated for a strong central government and the adoption of the Constitution. On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists, composed of diverse groups, opposed the creation of a stronger federal government, fearing that it would threaten individual liberties and state sovereignty. Despite their efforts, the Anti-Federalists were unable to efficiently organize across all thirteen states, and the Constitution was eventually ratified, leading to a compromise that resulted in the inclusion of the Bill of Rights.

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Federalists' nationalist beliefs

The Federalists were nationalists who believed in a strong central government and were instrumental in shaping the new US Constitution in 1787. They were a coalition of bankers and businessmen who supported Alexander Hamilton's fiscal policies and desired a fiscally sound and nationalistic government. They advocated for a national bank, tariffs, and good relations with Great Britain, as expressed in the Jay Treaty of 1794. Federalists believed in the need for an adequate central government and argued that a republican form of government could be adapted to the large expanse of territory and diverse interests in the United States. They included big property owners in the North, conservative small farmers, businessmen, wealthy merchants, clergymen, judges, lawyers, and professionals.

Federalists supported the adoption of the Constitution, which they believed already contained protections for individual liberties in Article I, Sections 9 and 10. They argued that the entire Constitution, with its checks and balances, was effectively a Bill of Rights. They also believed that listing specific rights would be impractical as it would be impossible to list all the rights afforded to Americans.

Federalists called for a strong national government that promoted economic growth and friendly relations with Great Britain, in opposition to Revolutionary France. They supported the funding of the old Revolutionary War debt, the assumption of state debts, the passage of excise laws, the creation of a central bank, the maintenance of a tariff system, and favourable treatment of American shipping. They observed neutrality in the war between France and Great Britain in 1793.

The Federalist Party came into being between 1789 and 1790, with its only Federalist president being John Adams. The party controlled the national government until 1801 when it was overtaken by the Democratic-Republican opposition led by Thomas Jefferson.

Anti-Federalists' fear of a powerful government

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 Anti-Federalists feared the centralisation of power and sought to protect the interests of rural areas and farmers. They believed that the Constitution, as drafted, would lead to a loss of individual liberties, an erosion of state sovereignty, and the potential for the rise of tyranny. They advocated for a more decentralised form of government with greater protections for individual rights and stronger representation for the states.

The Anti-Federalists were composed of diverse elements, including those who opposed the Constitution because they believed that a stronger government threatened the sovereignty and prestige of the states, localities, or individuals. Some Anti-Federalists saw the proposed government as a new centralised and "monarchic" power that would replicate the cast-off governance of Great Britain. They worried that the position of president, then a novelty, might evolve into a monarchy. 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.

Generally, Anti-Federalists were more likely to be small farmers than lawyers and merchants and came from rural areas rather than the urban areas represented by many Federalists. They believed that the Constitution, as written, would be oppressive and that it needed a Bill of Rights. They also believed that the Constitution provided insufficient rights in the courts (e.g., no guarantee of juries in civil cases, nor that criminal case juries be local) and would create an out-of-control judiciary.

The Anti-Federalists also believed that the federal government's powers to tax provided by the Constitution could be used to exploit citizens and weaken the power of the states. They argued that the Constitution did not include a bill of rights because it did not vest the new government with the authority to suppress individual liberties. They held that it would be impossible to list all the rights afforded to Americans, so it was best to list none.

Federalist Papers

The Federalist Papers, originally known simply as The Federalist, is a collection of 85 articles and essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the collective pseudonym "Publius". The papers were written between October 1787 and May 1788 and promoted the ratification of the United States Constitution. The Federalist Papers were written in response to the Anti-Federalists, who opposed the creation of a stronger US federal government and the ratification of the 1787 Constitution.

The Federalist Papers were published primarily in two New York state newspapers: The New York Packet and The Independent Journal. The first 36 essays were published anonymously and appeared in newspapers between October 1787 and April 1788. The high demand for the essays led to their publication in a more permanent form, with the first volume released on March 22, 1788, and the second on May 28, 1788. The last eight papers were republished in New York newspapers between June 14 and August 16, 1788.

The Federalist Papers were written to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution, which was drafted in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. The essays explain particular provisions of the Constitution in detail and promote the adoption of the Constitution over the existing Articles of Confederation. The Federalist Papers are often used today to interpret the intentions of those who drafted the Constitution.

The Federalist Papers are considered an essential read for understanding the principles and reasoning behind the US Constitution. The 85 essays provide minute details on how the new government would work, how the states would retain their powers, and the division of powers between the federal and state governments. The papers are also a valuable source for understanding key provisions within the Constitution and their underlying principles.

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Anti-Federalist Papers

The Anti-Federalist Papers are a collection of essays written by those opposed to the US Constitution of 1787. The authors, known as Anti-Federalists, were concerned about the concentration of power in a stronger federal government and sought to protect certain rights. They favoured strong state governments, a weak central government, the direct election of government officials, and the strengthening of individual liberties.

The Anti-Federalist Papers were written by a diverse group of individuals, including small farmers, landowners, shopkeepers, and labourers. The authors worked independently, using pseudonyms such as "Brutus", "Cato", "Centinel", and "Federal Farmer" to remain anonymous. The essays were published in newspapers, such as the New York Journal, and as pamphlets, starting on 25 September 1787, just eight days after the final draft of the US Constitution.

The Anti-Federalist Papers argued against the ratification of the Constitution, claiming that it would give the federal government too much power. In particular, Brutus, likely Robert Yates, Melancton Smith, or John Williams, wrote a series of essays addressing the citizens of New York, examining various clauses in the Constitution and arguing that it would create a federal government with "absolute and uncontrollable power". He also pointed out the unlimited authority of the legislature to lay taxes and duties.

Despite their efforts, the Anti-Federalists were unable to prevent the ratification of the Constitution, which took effect in 1789. However, their writings influenced the creation of the United States Bill of Rights, as they succeeded in creating enough opposition to prevent Massachusetts from ratifying the Constitution without amendments. The first major collection of the Anti-Federalist Papers was compiled by Morton Borden of Columbia University in 1965, and the most frequently cited contemporary collection, "The Complete Anti-Federalist", was published in 1981.

Compromise and the Bill of Rights

The Federalists and Anti-Federalists had differing views on the US Constitution. The Federalists supported the adoption of the Constitution, advocating for a strong national government and a weaker state government. They believed that individual rights were already protected by state and common law. On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists opposed the ratification of the Constitution, fearing that it would lead to a loss of individual liberties and an erosion of state sovereignty. They advocated for a more decentralized form of government with greater protections for individual rights and stronger state representation.

The Anti-Federalists believed that the Constitution needed a Bill of Rights to ensure the liberties they felt were violated by the Constitution. They wanted more explicit declarations of their rights under the new government. The Federalists initially argued that a Bill of Rights was unnecessary, as the government could only exert the powers specified by the Constitution. However, they eventually agreed to consider adding amendments to gain support for the Constitution.

James Madison, a staunch Federalist, proposed amendments focused on rights-related changes, ignoring suggestions for structural changes to the government. These amendments became the first ten amendments to the US Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights. By the end of 1791, three-fourths of the states had ratified these ten amendments, which became the bedrock of individual rights and liberties in the United States.

The Bill of Rights was a significant compromise that enabled Federalists and Anti-Federalists to reach an agreement on the adoption of the Constitution. This compromise helped to bridge the divide between those who favoured a strong national government and those who advocated for stronger state rights, allowing for the creation of a more unified United States government.

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