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Verma 1

Professor Collins

History 1301-

15 October 2021

Federalists vs. Anti-federalists: What were the main arguments prior to ratification of the Constitution? What was the outcome of the debate?

Thesis- The historical debate involving the federalists and anti-federalists remains to have a major impact on the American political scene and the judicial system. The debate was sparked by a group calling themselves anti-federalists who believed it was not good to have a strong central government. They felt that having such a system of governance would be difficult to put the government in check because it would undermine the powers of the state governments. They felt that a strong central government would take the country back into the British colonialists' tyranny they had fought against. On the other hand, the federalists insisted on having a strong central government with a strong executive. The debate was resolved by adopting the bill of rights, which was to be used alongside the Constitution to protect the American people's liberties. Through the bill of rights, a strong central government with a vibrant executive could be checked by the courts on matters to do with rights violations.