story name: The words we lived by : You annotated Guide to the constitution by linda monk by Hachette Books
Explain why the Antifederalists were worried about ratifying the Constitution. How did the Federalists convince them to support ratification? Cite evidence from paragraph 11 to support your response.
The Antifederalists were concerned about ratifying the Constitution primarily because they believed that it centralized too much power in the federal government, risking the potential for tyranny. They worried that the absence of a bill of rights would not protect individual liberties, as the Constitution largely focused on outlining the powers of the government rather than explicitly safeguarding personal freedoms. Additionally, Antifederalists were concerned that the proposed Constitution did not adequately represent the interests of all states and would favor larger states, leading to an imbalance of power.
The Federalists, on the other hand, successfully convinced the Antifederalists to support ratification by emphasizing the need for a stronger central government to ensure the stability and effectiveness of the nation. They argued that the articles of Confederation, the predecessor to the Constitution, were inadequate in addressing the problems faced by the young country. The Federalists assured the Antifederalists that a decentralized government would inevitably lead to chaos and inefficiency. They further promised that a central power could protect individual liberties through a system of checks and balances, reducing the likelihood of abuse of power.
Paragraph 11 provides evidence of the strategies employed by the Federalists to alleviate Antifederalist concerns. It states that "Federalists finally made a strategic concession to the Antifederalists and offered a plan, backed by an assurance that a bill of rights would be among the first orders of business should a newly established Congress ratify the new Constitution." This acknowledgement and promise of a bill of rights addressed one of the key concerns of the Antifederalists. The Federalists recognized that including a bill of rights would protect individual liberties and appease those who feared the potential for governmental abuse. This concession demonstrates the Federalists' willingness to compromise and adapt the Constitution to gain the support of the Antifederalists.