The Federalists and

Anti-FederalistsOnly write down the information

colored in Black or White.

BackgroundAfter creating the After creating the Constitution at the Constitution at the Constitutional Convention, Constitutional Convention, the ratification process the ratification process began. began.

Only 9 states were needed Only 9 states were needed to ratify the Constitutionto ratify the Constitution.

Within the first 3 months: Within the first 3 months: Delaware, Pennsylvania and Delaware, Pennsylvania and

New Jersey ratified the New Jersey ratified the Constitution. Constitution. By January By January

1788 Georgia and 1788 Georgia and Connecticut also ratified it. Connecticut also ratified it.

Only four states to go for the Only four states to go for the Constitution to be approvedConstitution to be approved.

The remainder of the states were not The remainder of the states were not so easily swayed. so easily swayed. There were two There were two

groups that emerged, one that groups that emerged, one that supported the ratification of the supported the ratification of the

Constitution and one that did not. The Constitution and one that did not. The two groups were called the Federalist two groups were called the Federalist

and the Anti-Federalist. and the Anti-Federalist.

The Federalists were in favor of The Federalists were in favor of ratification of the Constitution, and ratification of the Constitution, and the Anti-Federalists were opposed.the Anti-Federalists were opposed.

Massachusetts held a close vote of Massachusetts held a close vote of 187-168 to approve the Constitution, 187-168 to approve the Constitution, but only after assurances were made but only after assurances were made that a Bill or Rights would be added. that a Bill or Rights would be added.

Within a few months Maryland, South Within a few months Maryland, South Carolina, and New Hampshire also Carolina, and New Hampshire also

cast their vote to endorse the cast their vote to endorse the Constitution with the expectation that Constitution with the expectation that

a Bill of Rights would be added. a Bill of Rights would be added.

The required 9 states had ratified the The required 9 states had ratified the Constitution, Constitution, however New York, however New York,

Virginia, North Carolina and Rhode Virginia, North Carolina and Rhode Island had still not reached a Island had still not reached a

decision. decision. Many felt that New York and Virginia Many felt that New York and Virginia

needed to ratify the Constitution, needed to ratify the Constitution, otherwise the fear was that the otherwise the fear was that the

Constitution would not survive without Constitution would not survive without these states. these states.

OutcomeFederalist and Anti-Federalists Federalist and Anti-Federalists worked hard to persuade public worked hard to persuade public

opinion in New York and Virginia. opinion in New York and Virginia.

Each side campaigned hard and did Each side campaigned hard and did their best to promote their cause.their best to promote their cause.

Federalist and Anti-federalist had Federalist and Anti-federalist had many speeches, letters, newspaper many speeches, letters, newspaper columns created to persuade public columns created to persuade public opinion. opinion. Eventually Virginia (89-79) Eventually Virginia (89-79)

and New York (30-27) voted to and New York (30-27) voted to ratify the Constitution. ratify the Constitution. With those With those

two states on board the United two states on board the United States under the new Constitution States under the new Constitution

would have a fighting change. would have a fighting change.

The Federalists were ultimately The Federalists were ultimately successful, however with the successful, however with the

approval of a Bill of Rights, the approval of a Bill of Rights, the Anti-federalist had installed a Anti-federalist had installed a

valuable portion. valuable portion.

Eventually all of the states ratified the Eventually all of the states ratified the Constitution which symboled a unified Constitution which symboled a unified country embarking on its new framework.country embarking on its new framework.

What is the difference between a Federalist and an

Anti-federalist?

The basic answer…

- Federalists wanted to Federalists wanted to ratify the Constitution ratify the Constitution - Anti-federalist did not- Anti-federalist did not

Other Differences…

Make two columns in your notes. At the Make two columns in your notes. At the top of one side put the title: top of one side put the title: FederalistFederalist. At . At the top of the other column put the title: the top of the other column put the title:

Anti-FederalistAnti-Federalist.. Write the following Write the following information under the appropriate columninformation under the appropriate column.

FederalistFavored the creation of a strong Favored the creation of a strong central governmentcentral government

Federalist mostly consisted of the Federalist mostly consisted of the wealthier class (Merchants and wealthier class (Merchants and Plantation Owners) Plantation Owners)

Proponents of the Federalists were: James Madison, Proponents of the Federalists were: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, George Washington and

Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin.

Anti-federalistFavored the power of the state Favored the power of the state governments in their right to governments in their right to independently rule.independently rule.

Anti-Federalist were not a part of the Anti-Federalist were not a part of the wealthier class (Farmers and wealthier class (Farmers and Tradesmen) Tradesmen)

Proponents of the Anti-Federalists were: Patrick Proponents of the Anti-Federalists were: Patrick Henry, George Mason, Edmund Randolph and Henry, George Mason, Edmund Randolph and many local politicians. many local politicians.

Federalist- Thought the National Government would cultivate - Thought the National Government would cultivate more commercial (economic) growth for the country.more commercial (economic) growth for the country.

-Envisioned a society made up of a variety of Envisioned a society made up of a variety of competing social and interest groups competing social and interest groups

- Proposed a Republic system of electing Proposed a Republic system of electing experienced representatives versus people as a experienced representatives versus people as a whole to governwhole to govern

- A strong national government would an asset for A strong national government would an asset for foreign policy and militaryforeign policy and military

Anti-federalist-Sided with the virtues of local government and thought Sided with the virtues of local government and thought that federal power would allow the president to become a that federal power would allow the president to become a tyrannical monarchy. tyrannical monarchy.

- Worried that congress would be controlled by an Worried that congress would be controlled by an aristocratic elite with too few representativesaristocratic elite with too few representatives

- Anti-federalists wanted to add a Bill of Rights to the Anti-federalists wanted to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution to guarantee certain rights to the citizens.Constitution to guarantee certain rights to the citizens.

- Envisioned a more agricultural societyEnvisioned a more agricultural society

- Opposed a standing army Opposed a standing army

Federalist-The Articles of Confederation were The Articles of Confederation were ineffectiveineffective

- A strong national government would be A strong national government would be needed to control uncooperative states.needed to control uncooperative states.

- Constitution and the state governments Constitution and the state governments would protect basic citizen’s rights, there would protect basic citizen’s rights, there was no need for a Bill or Rightswas no need for a Bill or Rights

Anti-federalist-The Articles of Confederation was a good planThe Articles of Confederation was a good plan

- Strong national government threatened the Strong national government threatened the states powerstates power

- Elections for anyone, not a representative eliteElections for anyone, not a representative elite

- Needed a national Bill of Rights as a states bill - Needed a national Bill of Rights as a states bill of rights may be overturned by the Constitution.of rights may be overturned by the Constitution.

Overall, the Federalists were more Overall, the Federalists were more organized in their efforts and the organized in their efforts and the

Constitution was ratified.Constitution was ratified.

Interestingly, the Bill of Rights was not Interestingly, the Bill of Rights was not originally a part of the Constitution, and yet originally a part of the Constitution, and yet

it has proved to be highly important to it has proved to be highly important to protecting the rights of the people. protecting the rights of the people.

In a way the Anti-Federalist and the In a way the Anti-Federalist and the Federalist compromised and came up with Federalist compromised and came up with

the structure of the United States.the structure of the United States.