What were the two groups that emerged after the constitutional convention? What did each group want?
https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-now/teaching-resource/differences-between-federalists-and-antifederalists
The two groups that emerged after the Constitutional Convention were the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. To understand what each group wanted, we need to look at the context of the time.
The Federalists were supporters of the newly drafted Constitution and played a significant role in its ratification. They believed in a strong central government and favored the Constitution's provisions that granted more power to the national government. The Federalists argued for the separation of powers, which included a strong executive branch and a judicial system. They wanted a centralized authority that could effectively address the issues faced by the nation at that time, such as economic stability, defense, and foreign relations. Prominent Federalists included Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.
On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists were opposed to the newly proposed Constitution. They were concerned that it would consolidate too much power in the national government, potentially leading to a tyranny similar to what they had fought against during the American Revolution. The Anti-Federalists favored a more decentralized government that preserved power in the hands of the states. They worried that the Constitution lacked a Bill of Rights, which would protect individual liberties from potential government overreach. Prominent Anti-Federalists included Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and George Mason.
To learn more about the specific arguments and debates of these two groups, you can read the Federalist Papers, a collection of essays written by Federalists Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, as well as Anti-Federalist writings such as the Brutus essays by Robert Yates and the Letters from a Federal Farmer by Richard Henry Lee. These documents provide valuable insights into the perspectives and goals of both groups.