Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists
Option A
Lexile: 1080
Word Count: 436
Vocabulary: Anti-Federalist, Federalist, monarchy, rebel, tyranny, frustrated, rebellion, disagreement, well-known, delegates
Introduction
By 1787, many Americans believed the government was failing under the Articles of Confederation. However, people disagreed about how to fix the problems. After the delegates created the new Constitution, at least nine states needed to approve it before it could go into effect. This led to debates between two groups: the Federalists, who supported the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists, who opposed it.
Who were the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists?
Federalists were often from cities and worked as merchants or lawyers. Some well-known Federalists were James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. Anti-Federalists were more likely to be farmers from small towns or rural areas. Famous Anti-Federalists included Patrick Henry, Robert Yates, and Richard Henry Lee.
How strong should the national government be?
One major debate revolved around the principle of federalism, or the division of power between the national government and state governments. Should states keep most of the power, or should a stronger national government be created? Federalists believed a strong national government was needed to protect people’s rights and prevent problems like Shays’ Rebellion, when frustrated farmers in Massachusetts rebelled against the government. Anti-Federalists, however, worried that a powerful national government could become a tyranny, like the British monarchy they had just fought against.
Anti-Federalists also feared a strong national government would take power away from local communities. They believed representatives in a large country would not truly understand or listen to the people. One Anti-Federalist writer, using the name Brutus, warned that if representatives do not know or care about what the people want, then “the people do not govern.” In contrast, Federalists thought a large republic would actually protect individual rights better. James Madison wrote in Federalist #10 that a larger country will, “make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens; or if such a common motive exists, it will be more difficult for all who feel it…to act in unison with each other.” In a big country, it would be harder for one group to take control and limit others’ rights. Federalists also believed that elections, separation of powers, and checks and balances would prevent the national government from becoming too powerful.
Should there be a bill of rights?
Another big disagreement was whether the Constitution needed a bill of rights. Federalists thought the Constitution already protected people’s rights and worried that listing some rights might make it seem like other rights didn’t exist. Anti-Federalists, however, strongly believed a bill of rights was necessary to protect individual freedoms. In the end, the Federalists won, and the Constitution went into effect in 1788. However, to address Anti-Federalist concerns, the Bill of Rights was added in 1791.
Option B
Lexile: 940
Word Count: 403
Vocabulary: anti-federalist, federalist, countryside, rebellion, ruler, disagreement, well-known, merchant, voting, introduction
Introduction
By 1787, many Americans felt their government was not working well. The government followed rules written in a document called the Articles of Confederation, but there were a lot of problems. But not everyone agreed on how to fix the problems. After some leaders wrote a new set of rules called the Constitution, at least nine states needed to say yes to it before they could go into effect. This led to big debates between two groups. One group was called the Federalists, who liked the Constitution. The other group was called the Anti-Federalists, who did not like it.
Who were the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists?
Federalists usually lived in cities and worked as merchants or lawyers. Some famous Federalists were James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. Anti-Federalists were mostly farmers who lived in small towns or the countryside. Some well-known Anti-Federalists were Patrick Henry, Robert Yates, and Richard Henry Lee.
How strong should the national government be?
One big question was about how to share power between the national government and state governments. Should states keep most of the power, or should the national government be stronger? Federalists wanted a strong national government to protect people’s rights and stop problems like Shays’ Rebellion, when angry farmers fought against the government in Massachusetts. But Anti-Federalists were worried that a strong national government might become too powerful, like the British rulers they had fought against.
Anti-Federalists also thought a strong national government would take power away from local towns and the states. They believed leaders in a big country wouldn’t understand what people wanted. One Anti-Federalist writer named Brutus said that if leaders don’t know or care what people want, then the people aren’t really in charge. But Federalists thought a big country would actually protect people’s rights better. James Madison wrote that in a large country, it would be harder for one group to take away other people’s rights. Federalists also believed that elections and dividing power between different parts of the government would keep it from getting too strong and make sure it did not violate the people’s rights.
Should there be a bill of rights?
Another big disagreement was about whether they needed a bill of rights. Federalists thought the Constitution already protected people’s rights by dividing power. Anti-Federalists believed they needed a special list of rights to protect people’s freedoms. In the end, the Federalists agreed to pass a bill of rights once the Constitution was passed. This helped win over enough Anti-Federalists and the Constitution became law in 1788. The Bill of Rights was passed in 1791.