F E D E RA L I S T S V S . A N T I - F E D E RA L I S T S

THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATE

THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATERatification • After the delegates wrote the Constitution at the

Constitutional Convention, it had to he ratified, or approved, by the states.

• 9 out of 13 states had to ratify, approve it

THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATERatification • Americans began to discuss the arguments for or

against ratification and 2 parties developed• Federalists: Supported a strong national

government and supported the constitution• Anti Federalists: Wanted a weak national

government and did not support the Constitution

FEDERALISTS VS. ANTI FEDERALISTS

Federalists (211-212) Anti Federalists (212)How did they feel about the Constitution?

Important Individuals:

Explain the Federalists Papers:

How did they feel about the Constitution?

Important Individual:

Explain the Anti-Federalists Papers:

What did the Anti-Federalists believe was missing?

What was the Anti-Federalists greatest fear?

Liked the Constitution because it had a strong national government

Washington, Franklin, James Madison, John Jay, Alex Hamilton

Essays explaining and defending the Constitution, written to

persuade people to accept it

Disliked the Constitution because it gave national government too much

power

Patrick Henry

Wrote the new constitution would take away liberties (freedoms)

Bill of Rights

Worried a strong national government would abuse power, like King of

England

READ THE DOCUMENTS, AND DETERMINE IF THEY ARE A FEDERALISTS OR ANTI FEDERALISTS

VIEWPOINT“Did it ever enter the mind of any one of you, that you could live to see the day,

that any other government but the General Assembly

of Virginia should have power of direct taxation in this state? How few of you

ever expected to see excise laws, those

instruments of tyranny, in force in your country?”

“IT HAS been already observed that the federal

government ought to possess the power of

providing for the support of the national forces; in which proposition was

intended to be included the expense of raising troops, of building and

equipping fleets, and all other expenses in any wise

connected with military arrangements and

operations.” The Anti-federalist Papers Anonymous Virginia Anti-federalist, Published October 31, 1787

Excerpt from Federalist Paper #30 Alexander Hamilton, published Friday, December 28, 1787

READ THE DOCUMENTS, AND DETERMINE IF THEY ARE A FEDERALISTS OR ANTI FEDERALISTS

VIEWPOINT“AMONG the numerous

advantages promised by a well constructed Union,

none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and

control the violence of faction.”

“The remaining power for peace and trade might

perhaps be safely lodged with Congress under some

limitations. Three restrictions appear to me

to be essentially necessary to preserve that equality of rights to the states, which it is the object of

the state governments to secure to each citizen.”

Excerpt from the Federalists PapersFriday, November 23, 1787. MADISON

Excerpt from Anti Federalist Paper #11 Alexander Hamilton, published 1787

THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATEAdopting the Constitution

• James Madison was asked to write the Constitution and became known as the Father of the Constitution

• Constitution was finally ratified, when the Federalists agreed to add a Bill of Rights as the first 10 Amendments

• Amendments: something added to the Constitution

• Sept 17, 1787 the delegates signed the Constitution, ratifying it, making it the new government of the US