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Anti-Federalist sentiment was so strong in some states that the addition of a bill of rights was a condition for ratification in New York, Virginia, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and North Carolina. In the end, though, Federalists compromised on this point. Federalists argued that this was not necessary Alexander Hamilton even devoted Federalist 84 of the Federalist Papers to an explanation of why the Constitution already protected civil rights, making a bill of rights unnecessary. They pushed for the addition of a bill of rights, which would guarantee several rights and freedoms. Federalists believed that a stronger national government would improve relationships between states and help create, as the Constitution stated, a “more perfect union.” Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, worried that a federal government with more power would be prone to tyranny.Īnti-Federalists were especially concerned that the Constitution would not adequately protect the rights of both states and individuals. The Constitution gave the federal government much more power, including the ability to levy taxes. Although Congress asked for millions in the 1780s, it received less than 1.5 million from the states between 17. States, however, were not required to provide any help. They pointed to Congress’s inability to fund any projects as one example of this ineffectiveness: under the Articles, Congress could not levy taxes, forcing it to ask the states for any money it needed. Federalists believed the economic problems and internal unrest America faced in the late 1780s were due in part to the weakness and ineffectiveness of the federal government under the Articles of Confederation. The main disagreement between Federalists and Anti-Federalists was over how much power the federal government should have. Meanwhile, the Anti-Federalists included John Hancock, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, George Mason, and Mercy Otis Warren. The Federalists claimed Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison as their own. There were many prominent politicians on both sides of the debate. They worried that a stronger federal government would be prone to tyranny and that the new Constitution did not include adequate protections for the rights of individuals and states. Anti-Federalists opposed ratification and believed power should be concentrated with the states rather than with the federal government.
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Anti-Federalist vs Federalistįederalists supported the ratification of the new Constitution and believed a more robust national government with greater powers was necessary to unite the individual states and create a stronger country. Thus began a contentious debate between those who supported the new Constitution and believed it was an improvement over the previous governing document, the Articles of Confederation, and those who opposed it and worried about the heightened powers it gave to the federal government. In fact, when it was sent to the states after being drafted during the Constitutional Convention of 1787, many initially refused to ratify it. Despite its importance today, however, the Constitution was almost not implemented at all. It outlines the government under which we live and details the rights each of us has. The Constitution is one of the most influential documents in American history.