Anti-Federalist

1. Anti-Federalist By: Jack A. Marquez Marielena Perez Terri Long

2. What is being Anti-Federalist? • Opposed a strong central government • Opposed the ratification of the Constitution • Thought the Constitution gave the government too much power • Thought the strong national government took away state power • Wanted to have a Bill of Rights in the Constitution • Thought the Constitution favored the wealthy • Opposed the 2/3 ratification plan

3. Who Were anti-federalists? Antifederalists: • states' rights advocates • backcountry farmers • poor farmers • the ill-educated and illiterate • debtors • paper-money advocates.

4. Anti-Federalist vs. Federalist

5. The Bill of Rights • The Anti Federalists were against a strong and centralized government because the Bill of Rights was their way of protecting all of us from elected officials.  • "A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just government should refuse."

6. Patrick Henry • Leader of the anti-federalists

7. George Mason • Important anti-federalist • Believed the constitution needed a section guaranteeing state rights

8. Thomas Jefferson For often being identified as a anti-federalist, Jefferson took many federalist actions. He feared the constitution would give the government too much power. Yet he used much of his executive power to his favor as president. The Purchase of the Louisiana Territory gave the president power to add territory to the country without much consent. “What were the effects of Jefferson's decision to go against his own philosophy concerning a strict interpretation of the Constitution? It can be argued that his taking liberties with the Constitution in the name of need and expediency would lead to future Presidents feeling justified with a continual increase in the elasticity of Article I, Section 8, Clause 18.”

9. Constitution When it came to the Constitution, supporters took the title of "Federalists" for themselves seeing how it was a respected idea but then called all of those who didn't support it "Anti-Federalists". Even though it makes the non-supporters seem as though they didn't support Federalism, on the contrary they believed in true Federalism. Where as, Federalists believed in mainly more of a National government with some Federal characteristics. Hoping to use taxes in order to pay war debts, provide protection and give back as a unified nation. Anti-Federalists, however, relied more on the idea of the Bill of Rights and states rights that were not yet guaranteed in the Constitution. (Those eventually becoming amendments) They basically feared the oppression of a strong central government. The Necessary and Proper clause scared them. They frequently argued that the Federalist were deeming the ratification of the Constitution as critical, which gave off a suspicious vibe. in reality all that Anti-Federalists really wanted was to set some restrictions and regulations to the powerful Central government depicted in the Constitution.

10. Marbury v. Madison A great example of the clash between Federalists and the Anti-Federalist party was this case. Since it was the need for influence or power within the judiciary branch that brought up the case. The passing of the Judiciary Act of 1801which gave the President the power to appoint Federal judges. Which Adams of course would use in his last two weeks as president to appoint Federalist judge Marbury who would add Federal influence to the court. But with Anti-Federalist Jefferson as President it then became the job of Secretary of State James Madison to deliver the commission, who was ordered by Jefferson to be with held. Therefore keeping his position from him.

11. Disadvantages of Federalism Nothing seems to get done the more government is divided. Its difficult to hold elected officials accountable when they have to go through so many divisions and processes first, in order to take action. Without a uniform government there is a greater chance of contradictions or conflicts within itself. In simpler terms, the back and forth between states and the central government often creates inefficiencies, redundancies and inequalities. A good reason why the Anti-Federalists believed in the efficiency of ruling more independently within the states.

12. Decentralists Anti-Federalists: Thomas Jefferson, John C. Calhoun, Ronald Regan, George H.W. Bush, William H. Rehnquist, Antonin Scalia, and Clarence Thomas Challenge that the Constitution is packed together among sovereign states that created the central government and gave it limited authority Believes that national government should not interfere with activities reserved for the states Believes state governments are closer to the people and reflect the people’s wishes more precisely Supportive of the devolution revolution, which is the attempt to slow the growth of national government by returning many functions to the states.

13. Citation • http://www.ushistory.org/us/16b.asp • http://library.thinkquest.org/11572/creation/framing/feds.html • http://teachingamericanhistory.org/fed-antifed/antifederalist/ • http://www.apsanet.org/imgtest/constthoughtantifederalists.pdf • Magleby, David. B. (2012) Government By The People. New Jersey: Pearson Education.