Omar Bennett
The United States Constitution faced opposition from Anti-Federalists, who believed that a strong federal government would favor the rich and educated elite, including bankers, businessmen, and large landowners. However, the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, included wealthy and well-educated landowners, businessmen, and former military commanders who believed that a strong government would be beneficial. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote a series of essays, known as The Federalist Papers, addressing citizens' concerns and arguing for a strong federal government and support for the Constitution. The support of large landowners and other influential groups, such as commercial interests and creditors, contributed to the eventual ratification of the Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Support for the new constitution | Large landowners, including Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, supported the new constitution |
| Reasons for support | Belief in a strong federal government, addressing citizen concerns, and countering arguments about an aristocratic rule by the elite |
| Federalist Papers | A series of eighty-five essays published in newspapers to argue for the new constitution and a strong federal government |
| Ratification | Large states like Pennsylvania and Massachusetts voted in favor, with New Hampshire becoming the ninth state to ratify |
| Opposition | Some Anti-Federalists, like Patrick Henry, distrusted the elite and feared a strong federal government would favor the rich |
| Compromises | The inclusion of a bill of rights and protections for traditional rights and liberties helped persuade delegates in many states to support ratification |
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What You'll Learn
- The belief that a strong federal government would benefit the wealthy
- The view that the new government was superior to the Articles of Confederation
- The idea that an aristocracy wouldn't arise, or be chosen by the people
- The desire for union among Americans with similar sentiments
- The need for a bill of rights to protect traditional liberties
The belief that a strong federal government would benefit the wealthy
The Federalists, who supported the ratification of the Constitution, tended to be among the elite members of society—wealthy and well-educated landowners, businessmen, and former military commanders. They believed that a strong federal government would be better for national defence and that it would benefit them.
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote a series of eighty-five essays, later compiled as The Federalist Papers, arguing for a strong federal government and support of the Constitution. They addressed citizens' concerns about the potential dominance of an elite group of wealthy and educated bankers, businessmen, and large landowners in the nation's politics. In Federalist No. 2, Jay reminded New Yorkers that union had been the goal of Americans since the Revolution, and the government proposed by the Constitution was the best means of achieving that union.
Hamilton countered that artisans usually chose merchants as their representatives and that an aristocracy, if it arose, would be chosen by lesser men. In Federalist No. 51, Madison assured readers that they did not need to fear that the national government would become too powerful. However, Anti-Federalists like Patrick Henry and Melancton Smith, a New York merchant and landowner, distrusted the elite and feared that a strong federal government would favour the rich. They believed that power should rest in the hands of small, landowning farmers of average wealth.
The Federalists' belief in a strong federal government aligned with their interests as wealthy and influential members of society. They saw the Constitution as a means to achieve a united nation and addressed concerns of an aristocratic rule through their writings. The support of influential figures like Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, who shared similar sentiments, contributed to the eventual ratification of the Constitution.
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The view that the new government was superior to the Articles of Confederation
The new constitution was widely supported by large landowners, who believed that a strong federal government would be better for national defence and commercial interests. The new government was seen as superior to the Articles of Confederation for several reasons. Firstly, the Articles of Confederation were considered inadequate by many Americans, who believed that a stronger central government was necessary. The Articles of Confederation had failed to provide an effective central government, with limited powers to tax and a weak executive branch. The new constitution, on the other hand, established a stronger federal government with more powers, including the ability to regulate commerce and levy taxes. This was seen as necessary to promote economic growth and stability.
Secondly, the new government addressed concerns about state sovereignty and individual liberty. Anti-Federalists, like Patrick Henry, feared that a strong federal government would favour the rich and lead to the creation of a political aristocracy. However, Federalists like Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay argued that the new government would better protect individual liberties and state sovereignty. They believed that the constitution provided for habeas corpus and prohibited religious tests for holding office, ensuring that the government would not violate citizens' traditional rights and liberties.
Thirdly, the new government was seen as a means of achieving union and resolving the issue of state representation. The large states got proportional strength in the number of delegates, and the state legislatures gained the right to select delegates, addressing concerns about state representation. James Wilson, a Scotsman, led the Federalists in the Pennsylvania convention, carrying the vote for ratification. The desire for union was natural among Americans of similar sentiments who were united by strong ties, and the new government proposed by the Constitution was seen as the best means of achieving that union.
Finally, the new government addressed fears about taxation and the power of Congress. Many citizens were generally revulsed at the idea of taxation, and debtors feared that a new government would "restrain the means of cheating creditors". However, the new government provided assurances that taxes would not be imposed unfairly and that debtors' rights would be protected. In Federalist No. 51, attributed to James Madison, citizens were assured that they did not need to fear that the national government would grow too powerful.
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The idea that an aristocracy wouldn't arise, or be chosen by the people
The Federalist Papers, a series of eighty-five essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, were published in New York and other states under the name of Publius, a supporter of the Roman Republic. The essays addressed a variety of issues that troubled citizens, including the fear that a political aristocracy would arise. In Federalist No. 2, John Jay reminded New Yorkers that union had been the goal of Americans since the Revolution and that the government proposed by the Constitution was the best means of achieving that union.
In Federalist No. 51, James Madison assured readers they did not need to fear that the national government would become too powerful. He also addressed objections that an elite group of wealthy and educated bankers, businessmen, and large landowners would dominate the nation's politics. Madison argued that the current members of the New York state senate and assembly were landowners of moderate wealth and that artisans usually chose merchants as their representatives.
Hamilton similarly countered that artisans typically chose merchants as their "natural patron[s] and friend[s]" to represent them. He argued that an aristocracy would not arise, and if it did, its members would have been chosen by lesser men. These arguments suggest that the Federalists believed that any aristocracy that may arise would not be chosen by the people, but rather by a smaller group of individuals with shared interests and connections.
The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, distrusted the elite and believed that a strong federal government would favour the rich over those of "the middling sort." Melancton Smith, a New York merchant and landowner, feared that the centralization of power would lead to the creation of a political aristocracy, threatening state sovereignty and individual liberty. He believed that power should rest in the hands of small, landowning farmers of average wealth who were more temperate, morally upright, and less ambitious than the elite.
Despite these differing views, the Constitution ultimately gained support from large landowners and other elite members of society who believed that a strong central government would be beneficial for national interests.
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The desire for union among Americans with similar sentiments
The Federalists, comprising wealthy and well-educated landowners, businessmen, and former military commanders, were strong supporters of the new Constitution. They believed that a strong federal government would be beneficial for national defence and commercial interests. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, wrote a series of eighty-five essays, later compiled as The Federalist Papers, arguing for a strong federal government and addressing citizens' concerns about the new Constitution.
In Federalist No. 2, John Jay reminded New Yorkers that union had been the goal of Americans since the Revolution. He asserted that a desire for union was natural among Americans of "similar sentiments" who were "united to each other by the strongest ties". The proposed government under the Constitution was, in their view, the best means of achieving that union.
Madison, in Federalist No. 51, assured readers that they need not fear an overly powerful national government. Hamilton countered arguments about an aristocratic rule by pointing out that artisans typically chose merchants as their representatives, and that any aristocracy would be chosen by "lesser men".
The Federalists' support for the new Constitution was influenced by their belief in the inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation and their desire for a stronger union among Americans with similar sentiments. They saw the Constitution as a means to achieve this desired unity, addressing concerns about an aristocratic rule and an overly powerful central government.
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The need for a bill of rights to protect traditional liberties
The United States Constitution was drafted in 1787 and faced considerable opposition from citizens who feared the loss of their traditional rights and violation of their liberties. This opposition led to calls for a bill of rights and a refusal to ratify the document without one. The Federalists, comprising wealthy and well-educated landowners, businessmen, and former military commanders, supported the Constitution and believed that a strong federal government would be beneficial.
The lack of a bill of rights was particularly problematic in Virginia, which had the most extensive rights-granting document among the states. The promise to draft a bill of rights for the Constitution persuaded delegates in many states to support ratification. The bill of rights was intended to protect citizens' traditional rights and liberties, ensuring that the federal government could not violate them. This reflected the belief that a strong federal government should not come at the expense of individual freedoms and that the protection of liberties was essential in the new nation's political system.
The debate over the form of government highlighted the concerns of citizens who wanted to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a few and protect their liberties. The inclusion of a bill of rights in the Constitution was a crucial step towards addressing these concerns and ensuring that the rights and liberties of citizens were enshrined and protected by the nation's founding document. This need for protection of traditional liberties was a driving force behind the demand for a bill of rights and influenced the eventual ratification of the Constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
Large landowners supported the new Constitution because they believed that a strong federal government would be better for national defense and that it would act in their interests.
Some citizens feared the loss of their traditional rights and the violation of their liberties. Anti-Federalists, like Patrick Henry, believed that a strong federal government would favor the rich and that power should rest in the hands of small, land-owning farmers.
The Federalist Papers, a series of eighty-five essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, addressed issues that troubled citizens, such as fears of a powerful national government. The essays played a role in gaining approval for the new Constitution, particularly in New York.
Federalists like James Wilson praised the new government as being the best ever offered to the world. They supported the Constitution and believed in a strong federal government, often coming from elite backgrounds themselves.
