Federalists vs.

Anti-Federalists
Directions: Use text or online resources to complete the chart that compares the Federalists versus the
Anti-Federalists during their debates over the ratification of the Constitution.
Federalists

Anti-Federalists

Famous members of the

faction

Alexander Hamilton (one of its key

supporters almost founded it), George
Washington (event though not an
actual member), James Madison, John
Jay (1st chief justice of the supreme
court)

Stance on the Articles of

Confederation
(Keep or Get Rid of
Them? Why?)

Opposed as ineffectual as a governing

document. Congress power was
limited to requesting cooperation
from states. (wanted a new
constitution)

George Mason, Patrick Henry (give

me liberty or give me death), Thomas
Jefferson (in France and the
constitution could have been greater
if he were in the U.S.) would form
them into the Democratic-republican
party; they were strong in rural areas
but weak in the urban centers.
Strongest under the Jefferson
administration
Articles needed to be amended, not
abandoned (refine and edit)

What were their views on

the need for a strong
central government?

Favored: wanted a new government

with a stronger central government
(why?)

How did each feel about a

Bill of Rights?

Believed the Constitution was

sufficient to protect individual rights
Implied in the constitution

How did the feel about the

power of the states?

Wanted a strong central government

and weak state governments
Believed states should surrender some
of their powers to a central
government

Wanted power in the states not the

central government
Closer to people so states should
retain most governing powers

What segment of the

population did they
represent?

Largely in Urban areas: Large

farmers, merchants, artisans

Largely in Rural areas: Small farmers,

only a few wealthy people were
antifederalists

Opposed: the chief worry was that the

states would lose influence with the
growth in the national governments
power (want states to have power
left a system with a very strong
central government and did not like
the taxes imposed by British simply
for revenue without no
representation= abuse of power;
doesnt see people of the state
everyday (may not know what the
people of Downingtown need
needs of every small part of the state)
Local people control local
environment
Believed the Constitution was not
sufficient to protect individual rights

Wealthy merchant classes

Small farmer, small merchant, or
laboring classes

Why did they feel their

position was the correct
path to take?

They felt, especially after shays

rebellion, that the USA needed a
stronger central government to
deal with various issues between
states

They fears a strong central

government would lead to a
tyrannical government very
similar to the one they had just
left (Britain). Feared monarchial
rule