The Federalist/Anti-

Federalist Debate

After the Constitution was written, nine of the thirteen colonies had to ratify it before it would become law. While many new Americans supported the document, the Constitution was also widely criticized for

*Being drafted in secret.

*Creating such a strong federal government.

*Taking power from the states.

*Lacking a federal bill of rights.

Opponents of the newly-written Constitution included Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson.

“ [The Constitution] . . . is a triple headed monster, as deep and wicked a conspiracy as ever was invented in the darkest ages against the liberties of a free people, “ said Constitutional Convention delegate John Lansing from New York.

And Thomas Paine said, “The best government is that which governs least.”

Thus began the infamous Federalist/Anti-Federalist debates, an attempt by each side to convince Americans of their points of view.

The Federalists:

Alexander

Hamilton

“There is something noble and magnificent in the perspective of a great Federal Republic, closely linked in the pursuit of a common interest, tranquil and prosperous at home, respectable abroad.”

Alexander Hamilton was George Washington’s aide in the Revolutionary War. Later, he would become George Washington’s Secretary of State. He was from New York, where he was an attorney and journalist. His political career was cut short when he was killed in a duel by Aaron Burr.

James Madison

“Liberty is safest in extended republics.”

James Madison, from a wealthy planter family in Virginia, served in the Continental Congress. He was Thomas Jefferson’s Secretary of State and was a two-term President of the United States. He was one of the major drafters of the Constitution, and is considered the “Father of the Bill of Rights.”

John Jay

“Nothing is more certain

than the indispensable

necessity of government,

and it is equally undeniable,

that whenever and however

it is instituted, the people

must cede to it some of their

natura rights in order to

vest it with

requisite powers.”

John Jay, from a merchant family in New York,was an attorney. He would become the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

The Federalist Papers were a series of 85 essays designed to convince the American public of the need to ratify the Constitution. Hamilton cleverly chose the name “Federalist” for his papers because, at the time, this name implied the promotion of state sovereignty, against a strong national government. The author of the papers was said to be “Publius.” It was common at the time to use classical pseudonyms when publishing articles. The name Publius referred to Publius Valeruis, who restored the Roman Republic after the overthrow of Rome’s last king.

Some major points of the Federalist Papers, explaining why the Constitution should be ratified:

•Each branch has the power to check the other.

•A strong executive is needed because “Energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government.”

•Congress is established as the strongest and most important of the three branches.

•A strong national government is needed to defend the borders of the weak Republic.

The Anti-Federalists

The Anti-federalists were at a disadvantage; the newspapers of the new nation threw themselves overwhelmingly behind the idea of the new government as proposed by the Constitution. Still, the Anti-federalists had strong popular appeal. Their distrust and suspicions of strong federal power were widespread.

The Anti-Federalists saw in the Constitution threats to

rights and liberties so recently won from England.

The Framers of the document did not openly discuss

the issues of the Constitution, and the secrecy bothered

a lot of Americans. Many Americans were not convinced

that a group of fewer than 100 men should answer such

questions as: Should the members of the government

be elected by direct vote of the people? Does slavery

have any place in a nation dedicated

to liberty?

The Anti-Federalist published essays of their own, and their viewpoints had broad popular appeal. The Anti-federalists were deeply suspicious of political power. They warned that public officials, however selected, would be constantly attempting to expand their powers. Other arguments made by the Anti-Federalists:

•Demanded direct, personal contact with their representatives.

•Ordinary citizens should be allowed to compete equally, in politics, as their more wealthy counterparts; the Constitution set up a government that favored the elite.

•The public good is best served by strong local, and not national, governments.

Some of the examples of

the Anti-Federalist essays:

The "Centinel" wrote a series of 24 articles that appeared in

the Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer and the Philadelphia

Freeman's Journal between October 5, 1787, and November 24,

1788.

He argued that the elaborate system of checks and balances would

be less effective in protecting liberty than in preventing the people

from detecting corruption and tyranny in their leaders, and that

a simple, responsive plan of government would be better.

Some historians feel most of the "Centinel" letters were written

by Samuel Bryan, and a few by Eleazer Oswald, owner of the

Independent Gazetteer.

The series of anti-federalist writing which most nearly paralleled

and confronted The Federalist was a series of sixteen essays published

in the New York Journal from October, 1787, through April, 1788,

during the same period The Federalist was appearing in New York

newspapers, under the pseudonym "Brutus", in honor of the Roman

republican who was one of those who assassinated Julius Caesar, to

prevent him from overthrowing the Roman Republic. The essays

were widely reprinted and commented on throughout the American

states.. The author is thought by most scholars to have been Robert

Yates, a New York judge, delegate to the Federal Convention,

and political ally of anti-federalist New York Governor George

Clinton. All of the essays were addressed to "the Citizens of the

State of New York".

Despite the arguments from the Anti-Federalists, the Constitution was ratified. Delaware was the first state to ratify it, and within eight months, eight of the nine states had ratified it. New York was the state to complete the ratification process. The Anti-Federalists had managed a compromise, and that was the promised addition of a federal bill of rights.

Said one Anti-Federalist, “It is necessary that the sober and industrious part of the community should be defended from the rapacity and violence of the vicious and idle. A bill of rights, therefore, ought to set forth the purposes for which the compact is made, and serves to secure the minority against the usurpation and tyranny of the majority.”

Even though Madison had originally opposed the addition of a bill of rights to the Constitution, (Hamilton had said in Federalist Paper No. 84 that the Constitution itself was a bill of rights, and that each state constitution had its own bill of rights) Madison later changed his mind, realizing that compromise with the Anti-Federalists was crucial if the government was to be accepted by the masses. He said, “We have in this way something to gain, and if we proceed with caution, nothing to lose.”

The Bill of Rights was written by James Madison. It was ratified in 1791. The Bill of Rights protects the freedoms of assembly, speech, religion, and the press; guarantees speedy trial; preserved the people’s right to bear arms; and prohibits unreasonable searches, among other safeguards.

The new government was thus complete. Although some Americans complained that they had fought the Revolution to avoid a strong central government, most were optimistic about the young country.