Answer to Question #307175 in History for Myreen

Question

Discuss the role of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists in the ratification of the Constitution and explain the difference in opinion of each group.  Provide details about the points they argued.

Answer 1

The role of the Federalists 

1.The Federalist advocated for the continuous checking of the government and ensure balanced system of governance where no arm of government dominates over the other. This is documented in the Federalist Paper No. 10.

2.The Federalist advocated for the US government to allow factions to be formed which could be used to hair people's interests in the government. This also is documented in Federalist no. 51.

3.They funded the old Revolutionary War debt and the assumption of state debts, passage of excise laws, creation of a central bank, maintenance of a tariff system, and favorable treatment of American shipping.

4.They stressed the need for an adequate central government and argued that the republican form of government easily could be adapted to the large expanse of territory and widely divergent interests found in the United States. 

The role of the Anti-Federalists 

1.Their major concern was the constitution. They argued that the constitution did not provide for the Bill of Rights that was meant to protect the people.

2.They also opposed the ratification of the 1787 U.S. Constitution because they feared that the new national government would be too powerful and thus threaten individual liberties, given the absence of a bill of rights.

Differences between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists

1. The Federalists strongly advocated for the ratification of the constitution and formation of a strong government whereas the Anti0-Federalists strongly opposed the ratification of the constitution thus advocated for a favor of small localized government.

2.The Federalists advocated for a stronger government with a stronger executive arm whereas the Anti-Federalists advocated for a central government with less power.

3.The Anti-Federalists strongly advocated for the Bill of Rights whereas the Federalists were totally against the Bill of Rights thus believed that the constitution was all the people needed.