1. Which group believed a strong national government was critical to the country?

federalists
anti-federalists

federalists

thx for the help...

anit-federalists

The group that believed a strong national government was critical to the country was the Federalists. To arrive at this answer, you can analyze the beliefs and positions of both groups.

During the time of the ratification debates of the United States Constitution, the Federalists were advocates for a strong central government. They believed that a powerful national government was necessary to maintain stability, protect individual rights, and regulate commerce across the states. Key Federalist figures, such as Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, argued for the adoption of the Constitution as it would provide for a more centralized government than the Articles of Confederation.

On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists were opposed to the Constitution and believed in a more decentralized form of government. They were concerned that a strong national government could potentially infringe upon the rights of the states and individuals. Notable Anti-Federalists, including Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry, argued for a Bill of Rights to be included in the Constitution to protect individual liberties.

While both groups had differing views on the power of the national government, it was the Federalists who actively supported and advocated for a strong national government during the ratification period. Therefore, the Federalists can be attributed to the belief that a strong national government was critical to the country.