Unit IV question

Constitution Debate F E D E R A L I S T S V S . A N T I F E D E R A L I S T S

Quick Comparison

FEDERALISTS

 Scrapping of the Articles of Confederation

 Supported limiting the power of the state to allow for a more effective federal government

 Favored an equal, but divided, three part government in the form of Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches

 Argued for a single chief executive

 Chiefly supported by the economic elites

 Felt the Constitution protected all

ANTIFEDERALISTS

 Amending the Articles led government

 Preferred states retain their influence and power for fear of a corrupt monarchical elite

 Preferred the direct representatives of the people, Congress/Legislative, to be the power of the government

 Feared an individual with king-like powers

 Support from lower class and rural areas

 Demanded a separate bill of rights

Timeline

Federalists

1765 – Patrick Henry’s Virginia Resolves

 1767 – Passing of Townshend Revenue Acts

 1770 – Boston Massacre

 1773 – Boston Tea Party

 1774 – First Continental Congress

 1775 – Second Continental Congress

 1776 – Declaration of Independence

 1777 – Articles of Confederation adopted

 1781 – Cornwallis surrenders

 1783 – Treaty of Paris ratified

Antifederalists

1786 – Shays’ Rebellion

 1787 – Constitutional Convention

 1788 – U.S. Constitution officially ratified

 1789 – Washington sworn in as President

 1790 – D.C. site selected and approved

 1795 – Jay’s Treaty argued by Jefferson

 1796 – Adams elected President

 1798 – Alien & Sedition Acts

 1800 – Jefferson elected President

 1803 – Louisiana Purchase

The Federalists

Alexander Hamilton John Jay James Madison George Washington (Trumbull, 1806) (Stuart, 1794) (Stuart, 1797)(Trumbull, 1806)

Key Federalist Writings - Published under the collective pen name “Publius”

Federalist no. 1 – Alexander Hamilton

- Announcing the opportunity for a chosen government by and for the people.

Federalist no. 10 – James Madison

- Argument emphasizing the power of the majority, and the potential for corruption and tyranny against the minority, and the need for protection of the minority.

Federalist no. 51 – James Madison

- Introduction of a checks and balances system essential to separating and equalizing the power of all three branches of government, and the dangers of a government of men.

- A third author, John Jay, would also be an instrumental contributor

The Anti-federalists

Patrick Henry Samuel Adams George Clinton (Mathews, circa 1891) (Graham, 1797) (Ames, n.d.)

Key Anti-Federalist Writings

Brutus I

Is it possible for a cultural melting pot society to sustain liberty and self-government without sacrifice by one or another?

Brutus II

It is human nature to sacrifice the common good for self-interested purposes requiring a bill of rights to secure the rights and liberties of the people.

Antifederalist no. 17

“Necessary and proper” authority for the central government will eventually overtake the secured rights of the state’s authority.

All pictures are from commons.wikimedia

Ames, E. (n.d.). George Clinton [Portrait]. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:George_Clinton#/media/File:George_Clinton_by_Ezra_Ames.jpg

Graham. (1797). Samuel Adams [Portrait]. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Governor_Samuel_Adams.jpg

Matthews, G. (c. 1891). Patrick Henry [Portrait]. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Patrick_Henry#/media/File:Patrick_henry.JPG

Stuart, G. (1797). George Washington [Portrait]. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/George_Washington#/media/File:Gilbert_Stuart_Williamstown_Portrait_of_Georg e_Washington.jpg

Stuart, G. (1794). John Jay [Portrait]. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/John_Jay#/media/File:John_Jay_(Gilbert_Stuart_portrait).jpg

Trumbull, J. (1806). Alexander Hamilton [Portrait]. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Hamilton#/media/File:Alexander_Hamilton_portrait_by_John_Trumbul l_1806.jpg

Vanderlyn, J. (1816). James Madison [Portrait]. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/James_Madison#/media/File:James_Madison.jpg