CONTENT STATEMENT
The Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist Papers framed the national debate over the basic principles of government encompassed by the Constitution of the United States and led to the adoption of the Bill of Rights.
CONTENT ELABORATION
The supporters of the ratification of the Constitution became known as Federalists and the opponents as Anti-Federalists. The Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist Papers discussed key principles of government as they related to the circumstances of that time.
Federalists argued:
- for Constitutional ratification;
- for the supremacy of the national government;
- for more powers to be given to the national government to address weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation (e.g., no power to tax and no national executive or judicial branches); and
- for the “necessary and proper” and “supremacy” clauses.
- Anti-Federalist argued:
- against Constitutional ratification;
- for supremacy of the state governments;
- for the need of a national bill of rights to protect citizens from the powers of national government; and
- against the “necessary and proper” and “supremacy” clauses.
The Constitution was ratified and the Anti-Federalists achieved success with the limitations on government by the adoption of the Bill of Rights.
EXPECTATIONS FOR LEARNING
Identify Federalist and Anti-Federalist viewpoints using excerpts from the Federalist and/or Anti-Federalist Papers.