1. Federalists and Anti-Federalists

2. How this is organized
• Issue by issue
• You’ll be assessed on your ability to identify
the beliefs of each side on these issues

3. Role of the Government
Federalists
• Strong government
Anti-Federalists
• Weak government
• Superior to the states
• Inferior to the states
• Vision of a business based
society
• Vision of an agrarian based
society

4. Structure of the Government
Federalists
• Felt separating power
between the three branches
would keep one branch
from becoming too
powerful
• Supported checks and
balances between each of
the branches
Anti-Federalists
• Thought that the Congress
had too much power and
didn’t represent the
interests of the people
• Feared the executive could
become a tyrant

5. Economics
Federalists
• Most Federalist politicians
were wealthy
Anti-Federalists
• Promoted the interests of
the yeoman (farm owners)
• Protective tariffs- makes
foreign goods expensive so
people buy American
• Weary of big business and
of the government
supporting business over
agriculture
• Supported a National Bank
to regulate money, fiscal
policy
• Opposed a National Bank

6. Individual Rights
Federalists
• Strong government = good
for individual rights
Anti-Federalists
• Strong government = bad
for individual rights
• A closer state gov’t has
better opportunity to
oppress the people than a
distant federal gov’t
• Wanted a Bill of Rights to
protect individual liberties

7. States’ Rights
Federalists
• Argued for federalismpower trickles down from
federal to state to local
gov’t
• Federal gov’t should be
superior to the states to
promote national interests
Anti-Federalists
• Feared states would lose all
their rights
• Wanted powers not granted
to the Federal gov’t to go to
the states

8. Expansion
Federalists
• Wanted to grow the country
all the way West
• Felt a large republic would
best serve the interests of
the people and their rights
• Expansion = more markets
and more resources
Anti-Federalists
• Thought a small republic
could best protect
individual rights
• Feared expansion would
hurt individual and state
rights

9. Standing Army
Federalists
• Supported a standing army
for national defense
Anti-Federalists
• Feared a standing army
could be used for
oppression

10. Foreign Relations
Federalists
• Pro-British
Anti-Federalists
• Pro-French
– Kinda until the French
Revolution got CRAAAAAZY

11. Homework
Pick a side- Federalist or Anti-Federalist
Create some sort of artifact supporting your side
Examples: Cartoon, flyer, pamphlet, poster, song