After the Constitutional Convention, Americans had to ratify (approve) or reject the new US Constitution. There was a strong debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
Which of the following answer choices accurately describes the differences between Federalists and Anti-Federalists?
Federalists feared a powerful government. They wanted a weaker federal government, with more power going to the states. Anti-Federalists were people who believed the US Constitution was a good thing. They wanted a strong federal government that could fix the issues caused by the Articles of Confederation.
Federalists feared a powerful government. They wanted a weaker federal government, with more power going to the states. Anti-Federalists were people who believed the US Constitution was a good thing. They wanted a strong federal government that could fix the issues caused by the Articles of Confederation.
Federalists and Anti-Federalists both liked the new US Constitution. However, the Anti-Federalists could not accept the position of a president. They feared one man in charge would become another king.
Federalists and Anti-Federalists both liked the new US Constitution. However, the Anti-Federalists could not accept the position of a president. They feared one man in charge would become another king.
Federalists and Anti-Federalists did not disagree on the US Constitution. They were political parties formed after everyone accepted the Constitution.
Federalists and Anti-Federalists did not disagree on the US Constitution. They were political parties formed after everyone accepted the Constitution.
Federalists were people who believed the US Constitution was a good thing. They wanted a strong federal government that could fix the issues caused by the Articles of Confederation. Anti-Federalists feared a powerful government. They wanted a weaker federal government, with more power going to the states and individuals?
The correct answer is:
Federalists were people who believed the US Constitution was a good thing. They wanted a strong federal government that could fix the issues caused by the Articles of Confederation. Anti-Federalists feared a powerful government. They wanted a weaker federal government, with more power going to the states and individuals.
The correct answer is:
Federalists feared a powerful government. They wanted a weaker federal government, with more power going to the states. Anti-Federalists were people who believed the US Constitution was a good thing. They wanted a strong federal government that could fix the issues caused by the Articles of Confederation.
The way to arrive at this answer is by understanding the basic beliefs and positions of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists during the ratification debate.
The Federalists supported the new US Constitution and believed in a stronger federal government. They argued that a strong central government was necessary for national defense, economic stability, and effective governance. They also believed that a strong union would provide better protection of individual rights. However, they were aware of the concerns about a powerful government, so they promised to include a Bill of Rights to safeguard individual freedoms.
On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists were skeptical of a strong central government. They feared that it could become tyrannical and infringe upon the rights of the states and individuals. They preferred a weaker federal government, with more power remaining with the states. Some Anti-Federalists argued that the new Constitution didn't do enough to protect individual rights and that it concentrated too much power in the hands of a distant government.
Understanding these key differences helps us identify that the correct answer is: Federalists feared a powerful government. They wanted a weaker federal government, with more power going to the states. Anti-Federalists were people who believed the US Constitution was a good thing. They wanted a strong federal government that could fix the issues caused by the Articles of Confederation.