Writing the Constitution: Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Writing the Constitution: Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

by Caryn Johnson

​Constitutional Convention of 1787

• ​By 1787, most states agreed that the Articles of Confederation were too weak and ineffective.

• ​A convention was scheduled for May 1787 in Philadelphia.

• ​The official goal of this convention was to REVISE the Articles of Confederation.

  • ​Make small changes

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the best definition of the word REVISE?

• To completely get rid of something

• To change something a little bit

• To start over with something new

• To draft a document

Multiple Choice

What was the main goal of the Constitutional Convention?

• To write an entirely new government

• To fix the Articles of Confederation with little changes

• To declare independence from Great Britain

• To protest tax laws

The delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention had very different ideas ​about their goals for the Convention.

​

​Federalists

• ​wanted a new constitution

• ​wanted a strong federal government

• ​supported by wealthy, educated merchants

• ​led by:

  • ​George Washington

  • ​Alexander Hamilton

  • ​James Madison

​Anti-federalists

• ​wanted to keep the AOC & make revisions

• ​wanted independent states

• ​supported by farmers & common people

• ​led by:

  • ​Thomas Jefferson

  • ​Patrick Henry

  • ​George Mason

Multiple Choice

What does the word FEDERAL mean in this sentence:

They wanted a strong federal government.

• state

• national

• world

• weak

Multiple Choice

The federal government makes rules for ......

• just one state

• the whole world

• the entire country (all states)

• just one city

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes what an ANTI-FEDERALIST would be against?

• strong state governments

• each state being independent

• not having a President

• strong federal governments

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes something a FEDERALIST would want?

• a strong national government

• each state being independent

• a weak national government

• a strong state government

At the Constitutional Convention, James Madison ​, a federalist, came up with a new plan of government.

​

This earned him the title: Father of the Constitution

The OLD Plan

• ​Articles of Confederation

• ​"Just friends"

• ​Each state was independent

Multiple Choice

Which group would support the OLD plan? (Articles of Confederation)

• Federalists

• Patriots

• Loyalists

• Anti-Federalists

Multiple Choice

Why would Anti-federalists support the OLD plan?

• It allowed the national government to control all the states.

• It allowed each state to remain independent & keep their power.

• It made the President very powerful.

• It made the President very weak.

​The NEW Plan

• Madison's Federal Constitution

• ​States must obey the national government

• ​Multiple levels of government

• ​3 branches of government at the national level

Multiple Choice

Which group would have supported the NEW plan?

• Federalists

• Anti-Federalists

• Patriots

• Loyalists

Multiple Choice

Why would federalists like Madison's NEW plan?

• It allowed the states to remain independent

• It made the states more powerful than the national government

• It made the national government more powerful than the states

• It allowed the states to disobey the national government