Anti-Federalists

By Gary, Jen, and Veronica

Anti-Federalists

Requirements for the Ratification Process

• Delegates knew that congress would oppose the draft because it reduced state powers

• 13 states had to approve the constitution

• Plan was to go directly to the voters to approve the constitution

Where and How did the Americans debate the

constitution?• Within the Philadelphia Convention• Took place newspapers and pamphlets• The anti-federalists opened discussion

by stating their objections to the constitution

• They drew on political philosophy in ancient and recent history to make their arguments

Key elements of Anti-Federalists Opposition

• Anti-Federalists believed in ideas of republicanism

• Representatives should be elected by the people

• A large diverse state should not sustain a republic

• The republic will require a standing army and will tax the people to sustain the army

How did their philosophy shape their objections to the

constitution• The constitution gives congress power to make laws that they believe are “necessary and proper”

• President of the U.S., has power to grant pardons for crimes, including treason.

• National courts have too much power that they are can destroy judicial branches of state governments

continued.• Anti-federalists believed checks and

balances system could be turned against people’s liberties

• Constitution states that treaties are the supreme law of the land

• The powers of the executive and legislative branches are more mixed then separated

• They also believed that the constitution didn’t really represent the national government.

Bill of Rights• The lack of bill of rights was the Anti-

Federalists was their strongest and most powerful weapon

• The best way to defeat the constitution was the Bill of Rights

• It does not adequately protect rights– Only the house of representatives is

chosen by the people

continued

• The national governments powers are general and vague

• There is no mention of freedom, religion, speech, press, or assembly

• The bill of rights is necessary to remind the people of our political system.

Critical Thinking• Read the excerpts in your book on

page,94 and 95.• Summarize the concerns• What views of Republican

Government are expressed?• How do they relate to opposing the

Constitution?