Federalist vs. Anti-Federalists

“All communities divide themselves into the few and the many. The first are the rich and well born; the other, the mass of people…. The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right. Give therefore the first class a ….permanent share in the government….they therefore will ever maintain good government.”

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• “It must be by this time evident to all men…that (the Articles of Confederation) is a system so radically vicious and unsound as to admit….an entire change.”

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• “Our country is too large to have all affairs directed by a single government.”

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• “The small landowners are the most precious part of the state.”

  
  

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• “The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State governments are numerous and indefinite.”

  
  

  
  

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• I am not among those who fear the people. They, not the rich, are our dependence for continued freedom."

  
  

  
  

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• "I had rather be a free citizen of the small republic of Massachusetts, than an oppressed subject of the great American empire."
  

  
  

  
  

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• “When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• In the compound republic of America, the power surrendereed by the people is first divided between two distinct governments, and then the portion allotted to each subdivided among distinct and separate departments. Hence a double security arises to the rights of the people. The different governments will control each other, at the same time that each will be controlled by itself.

  
  

  
  

  
  

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• I wish for nothing more than a good government and a constitution under which our liberties will be perfectly safe. To preserve which, I think the wisest conduct will be to keep the staff of power... in our hands as much as possible, and not... give up a greater share of our liberties.

  
  

  
  

  
  

• Federalist

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