The Federalist and Anti-Federalist

The Voices of ReasonPersuasion and Advantages

THE DEBATE BEGINS Ratification: The U.S. Constitution states that 9

states must ratify a document for it to become the official law of the land.

Federalists argue that a federal government would maintain state unity. States without a strong government would lead to competition over land and commerce and there would be no state unity for the common defense of the United States.

Anti-Federalists feared that a strong central government would lead to the loss of individual liberties. Supported a Bill of Rights.

THE FEDERALIST PAPERS John Jay, Alexander

Hamilton and James Madison will write 85 essays

It is political propaganda and explains American political thought of the day

It is written to appeal to the Anti-Federalists that it is important to ratify the U.S. Constitution

THE FEDERALIST PAPERS The essays will be

written under the fake name of Pulbius

Alexander Hamilton will write most of the essays and they will be published in newspapers

Hamilton believes that the Articles of Confederation will lead to anarchy

The Federalists Papers John Jay, Alexander Hamilton and James

Madison wrote the Federalist Papers to get support for the Constitution. Papers addressed issues such as representation, rights of individuals and majority rule.

The Anti-Federalists respond in the “Objections to the Constitution of Government formed by the Convention”, which argued the fear of a strong executive branch and the absence of a Bill of Rights.

FEDERALIST #10 Madison argues that

our nation is large with many groups who would keep each other in check and would prevent certain groups from being in power

Creditors and debtors, rich and poor, merchants and land owners

FEDERALIST #15

Hamilton points out the Articles of Confederation has many weaknesses

“If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”

FEDERALIST #51 Madison explains the

system of “checks and balances”, each branch has powers that limits the influence of the other branches of government

Federal Judges are appointed for life to be free from political pressure

JAMES MADISON

Writes The Federalist papers because he supports a strong central government

Writes the first 10 amendments to the Constitution

ALEXANDER HAMILTON

Alexander Hamilton a lawyer co-writes several The Federalist essays

Supports a strong national government and ratification of the Constitution

Patrick Henry Active leader during the

Revolution who demanded that the British “give me liberty, or give me death!"

He is against the Constitution because it reduced states rights and had no Bill of Rights

George Mason

Anti-Federalist, a Virginian Plantation owner

Wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights which becomes the model for the Bill of Rights

He refused to sign the Constitution until a Bill of Rights was included

The Federalist and Anti-Federalist

Federalists are supported the Constitution and tended to be supported by merchants and urban areas

Anti-Federalist did not want the Constitution passed and are supported by small farmers and rural settlers

DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW Federalists

argued for• Wanted a strong

national government

• Three branches of government filled with men of “reputation”

• Wanted a president to lead executive branch

• No Bill of Rights

Antifederalists argued• States should

have power• Wanted

legislative branch to be strongest branch of government

• Feared a strong president in office

• A Bill of Rights would protect the rights of Americans

An Unfair Advantage? The Federalists publish

their essays in New York newspapers and pamphlets in 1787-1789

Newspapers support the Federalist side and publish more Federalist writings than Anti-Federalist writings!