Anti-Federalists vs Federalists - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Anti-Federalists vs FederalistsSlide2

Alexander Hamilton

James Madison

John Jay

Federalists

PubliusSlide3

Prominent Anti-federalists

Cato’s Letters

Brutus

Centinel

Federal Farmer

Patrick HenrySlide4

Patrick Henry

Active leader during the Revolution who demanded that the British “give me liberty, or give me death!"

He is against the Constitution because it reduced states rights and had no Bill of Rights

Slide5

George Mason

Anti-Federalist, a Virginian Plantation owner

Wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights which becomes the model for the Bill of Rights

He refused to sign the Constitution until a Bill of Rights was includedSlide6

The

Anti-Federalists

were more

concerned with

protecting the

rights of the individual people and states, than promoting the pubic good as a whole.

Individual RightsSlide7

Who were the Federalists and Anti-Federalists?

Anti-Federalists:

People who opposed ratifying the Constitution

Leaders like George Mason, Edmond Randolph, and Elbridge Gerry

Each had attended the Philadelphia Convention but refused to sign the Constitution

John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and Richard Henry Lee All signed the Declaration of Independence, but also opposed the ratificationSlide8

Who were the Federalists and Anti-Federalists?

Most Americans were very suspicious of government, but the Anti-Federalists were especially mistrustful of strong government

They feared they had created a government that the people could not controlSlide9

DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW

Federalists

argued for

a

strong national government

Three branches of government filled with men of “reputation”

Wanted a president to lead executive branchNo Bill of Rights

Antifederalists arguedStates should have powerWanted legislative branch to be strongest branch of government

Feared a strong president in officeA Bill of Rights would protect the rights of AmericansSlide10

An Unfair Advantage?

The Federalists publish their essays in New York newspapers and pamphlets in 1787-1789

Newspapers support the Federalist side and publish more Federalist writings than Anti-Federalist writings!Slide11

The Federalists Papers

John Jay, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison wrote the

Federalist Papers

to get support for the Constitution.

Papers

addressed issues such as representation, rights of individuals and majority rule.The Anti-Federalists respond in the “Objections to the Constitution of Government formed by the Convention”,

which argued the fear of a strong executive branch and the absence of a Bill of Rights.Slide12

Does the national government have too much power?

The supremacy clause means that all the national government’s laws are superior to laws made by the states

It will only be a matter of time until the state governments are destroyed

The Constitution provides protections for the state governments by specifically reserving certain powers for the states

This will prevent the states from being destroyed by the national government

Anti-Federalists

FederalistsSlide13

Does the national government have too much power?

The necessary and proper clause is too general

It gives too much power to the national government

It is dangerous not to list all the powers of government in order to put clear limits on them

The necessary and proper clause and general welfare clause are needed if the national government is to do the things it is responsible for doing

Anti-Federalists

FederalistsSlide14

Does the national government have too much power?

The Constitution gives too much power to the executive branch of government

It will soon become a monarchy

A strong executive branch is necessary

It is needed if the national government is to fulfill its responsibilities

Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court have checks on the use of power by the Executive branch

The executive branch cannot become a monarchyThe power of the national government are separated and balanced among the three branchesNo one branch can dominate the othersThis system makes it impossible for any person or group to take complete control of government

Anti-Federalists

FederalistsSlide15

Does the Constitution provide for republican government?

Throughout history, the only places where republican governments worked had been in small communities

There, the people had similar wealth and the same values

People who are not too rich or too poor are more likely to have civic virtue

Such people are more likely to agree on what is best for the common good

The new nation would be too large and diverseThe people will not be able to agree on their common welfare

History has proven that selfish groups destroyed all the small republics of the pastThe civic virtue of the citizens was not enough to keep people from seeking their own interests

People did not work for the common goodA large republic where power is divided between the national and state governments is a better solutionIt is also better to organize government based on checks and balancesUnder such a government, it will be more difficult for special interests to work against the common good

Anti-Federalists

FederalistsSlide16

Does the Constitution provide for republican government?

Free government requires the active participation of the people

The national government will be located far from where most people live

People will be unable to participate in government

As a result, the only way government will be able to rule will be with military force

The result will be tyranny

The national government cannot become a tyrannyThe limits placed on government by the system of separation of powers and checks and balances will prevent itGovernment will be so good at protecting the rights of the people that it will soon gain their loyalty and support

Anti-Federalists

FederalistsSlide17

Is a Bill of Rights needed for the Constitution?

The Constitution does not include a bill of rights

A bill of rights is necessary to protect people against the power of the national government

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

Since these freedoms are not in the Constitution, government is free to violate them

Americans recently fought a war to secure their fundamental rightsThey do not want a constitution that places those rights in jeopardy

A bill of rights is not neededThe Constitution is the ultimate protection for people’s rights and the people are the ultimate sovereigns

The Constitution does not give government the power to deprive people of their rightsIt gives government only limited power to do certain thingsA bill of rights will give the impression that the people can expect protection only for the rights that are actually listedThe Constitution protects a number of rights by requiring writs of habeas corpus, and prohibiting ex post facto laws and bills of attainder

Anti-Federalists

FederalistsSlide18

Issue

Anti-Federalists Fear

Federalists Response

The

Biggest

threat to

The

people

The biggest threat to the people is the

tyranny of the government.

If a government is too big, it will have too much power, and consolidate, eventually leading to the government being ruled by a powerful

elite

The largest threats to the people is

having a small government in which those in the minority will never have power.

If there is a large government the diverse populations will ensure that a small group of people, a

dangerous minority

with

radical ideas

does not gain power. Slide19

Issue

Anti-Federalists Fear

Federalists Response

Protection of

Individual Rights

The

rights

guaranteed to the people should be included in the Constitution or else they are not

guaranteed

The

checks

and

balances

are enough to keep the government from taking the rights of the people away.Slide20

Issue

Anti-Federalists Fear

Federalists Response

Representation

The government should be run by

representatives

that are very

similar

to those who they are representing. This new government will encourage only the well educated

elite

to be representatives who are using this as an opportunity to gain power

The federal government should be run by

well educated

and

experienced

men, the

elite.

These are the men that are best educated and will be able to make the best decisions.Slide21

Issue

Anti-Federalists Fear

Federalists Response

People will not hold government accountable

A

free

government requires the active support of the people. The new government would be so

large

that people would not be involved in government, leading eventually to the government taking too much

power

.

The central government created

cannot

take the

rights

of the people because of the many

checks

and

balances

in the ConstitutionSlide22

Issue

Anti-Federalists Fear

Federalists Response

Power given to the federal government

The limits of the power given to the federal government are not

clear

and will result in the president becoming a

monarch

.

More limits should be made through a

Bill

of

Rights

.

The checks and balances in the Constitution will be effective in

restraining

the

power

of the

federal government

. The president does not have the power to make laws, so he/she cannot become a monarchSlide23

Why did the Federalists agree to add a Bill

of

Rights

to the Constitution?

A compromise was reached on the issue of a bill of rights

The Federalists made this compromise to get enough support for the Constitution so that it would be ratifiedThey agreed that when the first Congress was held, it would draft a bill of rightsThe argument to add a bill of rights was a victory for the Anti-Federalists

It was an important addition to the Constitution and has been of great importance in the protection of the basic rights of the American People