During the great debate over the ratification of the American Constitution in 1787, two groups, Federalists and Anti-Federalists, were extremely concerned with the safeguarding of liberty. However, these two groups absolutely disagreed whether or not a strong national government would uphold or ultimately annihilate the liberty of the American people. The Federalists supported the Constitution and a stronger national government. The Anti-Federalists, on the other hand, opposed the final ratification of the U.S. Constitution that embraced the creation of a much stronger centralized federal government. The Anti-Federalists preferred a national government that had bestowed the majority of power to the state governments. The opposition to
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After the recent tremendous victory in their fight against the British monarchy, the Anti-Federalists were very reluctant to put their trust into the new strong centralized government and the largely unknown position of a “President.” Considering that at that time, in 1789, most of the world’s governments were still monarchies, the Anti-Federalists’ fear was understandable. Additionally, some parts in the U. S. Constitution led the Anti-Federalists to believe that the power of the federal government would be nearly boundless. Congress was allowed “to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing Powers.” (U. S. Constitution, Article I, section 8) …show more content…
The House of Representatives was the only group of governmental officials elected directly by the people. Additionally, the fifty-five members of the projected national House of Representatives was much smaller, in size, than most state legislatures in that time. Thus, the Anti-Federalists were afraid that the central government was too far removed from the American people to be concerned for the people it's representing. The Anti-Federalists were sure that the huge size of the nation would prevent the federal government to promptly react to the concerns of people on a state and local level. The Anti-Federalists believed that the government representative had to come from the same background of the people they were representing, understand the constituents’ beliefs, traditions, and worries, be down to earth, in addition to being well educated to realize what was possible and
After the recent tremendous victory in their fight against the British monarchy, the Anti-Federalists were very reluctant to put their trust into the new strong centralized government and the largely unknown position of a “President.” Considering that at that time, in 1789, most of the world’s governments were still monarchies, the Anti-Federalists’ fear was understandable. Additionally, some parts in the U. S. Constitution led the Anti-Federalists to believe that the power of the federal government would be nearly boundless. Congress was allowed “to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing Powers.” (U. S. Constitution, Article I, section 8) …show more content…
The House of Representatives was the only group of governmental officials elected directly by the people. Additionally, the fifty-five members of the projected national House of Representatives was much smaller, in size, than most state legislatures in that time. Thus, the Anti-Federalists were afraid that the central government was too far removed from the American people to be concerned for the people it's representing. The Anti-Federalists were sure that the huge size of the nation would prevent the federal government to promptly react to the concerns of people on a state and local level. The Anti-Federalists believed that the government representative had to come from the same background of the people they were representing, understand the constituents’ beliefs, traditions, and worries, be down to earth, in addition to being well educated to realize what was possible and