What was the main argument used by the Federalists in favor of a strong central government?

Federalists argued that a strong central government was necessary to address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, such as the inability to tax and regulate commerce effectively.

What specific addition to the Constitution was demanded by the Anti-Federalists before they would ratify it?

The Anti-Federalists demanded a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties from potential government overreach.

Federalists and Anti-Federalists Debate

11th Grade•50 minutes

Learning Objective

I can compare the arguments of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists.

Key Concepts

The Federalist Papers, consisting of 85 essays, were written to explain the Constitution and encourage ratification.

Anti-Federalists like Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and Samuel Adams feared the Constitution made the federal government too strong.

The promise of a Bill of Rights, which would guarantee citizens' rights, was crucial to gaining Anti-Federalist support for the Constitution.

Practice Questions

This lesson includes 12 practice questions to reinforce learning.

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1. Who were the leading figures associated with the Federalist movement?

2. What was the primary concern of the Anti-Federalists regarding the proposed Constitution?

3. What is the significance of the Federalist Papers?

...and 9 more questions

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Constitutional Convention: Federalists v. Anti-Federalists

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