Compare and Contrast Federalist and Anti-Federalist By: Josh Stewart
...Constitution. Madison and Hamilton were assigned with explaining the need for the constitution, and how the Federal government would work. They called for a Democratic government, or a government “By the people, of the people, for the people”, as the First Amendment so cleverly said. They further explained that the size of the country would prevent any one political party from controlling the government. The Federalists argued that without the Constitution, the United States would relapse into a lawless country, without any leadership. In contrast, the opponents of the Constitution, who were called Anti-Federalists, were certain that the new government would be the death of their new born country. They were led by the older revolutionary figures such as Patrick Henry and George Mason. They had widespread support in areas that didn’t have many large businesses. The Anti-Federalists stated that the constitution was a betrayal of the American Revolution, and that it was a plot to trample the less fortunate group of people, and that it would eventually render them helpless. The Anti-federalists believed only a small republic formed on homogeneous interests could secure individual rights. While the Federalists feared the people more than the government, the Anti-Federalists feared the government more than the people. Many objected not only to the presidency, but also to the new federal court system. They also worried that this new giant federal government would crush those governments closest to the people, which were the local and state governments. I believe it is most likely that most Americans agreed with the Anti-Federalists. But the Federalists had several advantages. First, they had a very convincing case, stating that the articles of confederation needed reform. Second, they made the Anti-Federalists appear to be nothing more than critics without a plan of their own. Third, the Federalists were a well-organized national group, holding regular meetings while the Anti-Federalists were men with only local and state power who could not coordinate activities on a national level. Fourth, the Federalists had George Washington. George Washington was a national icon, the people respected and trusted him, and he was widely expected to become the first president. People knew him as a leader, but most importantly, he had given up power at the end of the war, demonstrating his willingness to act within the law. The states eventually voted to ratify the Constitution but the voting was close. What made the difference was the Federalist offer to immediately adopt several changes in the Constitution. Even...