02.03 The Anti-Federalists: Assessment

Federalist

Federalist believe that a strong central government would be necessary for the newly developed nation. The quote stated "a pure democracy can admit no cure for the mischief of faction. A common passion or interest will be felt by a majority, and there is nothing to check the inducements to sacrifice the weaker party. Hence it is, that democracies have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have, in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.

Around the time everything was chaotic, two plans were brought into the picture to resolve the issue. The Virginia, and the New Jersey plan, because it gave power to the largest states. "We may define a republic to be, or at least may bestow that name on, a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people, and is administered by person by persons holding their offices during pleasure for a limited period, or good behavior.

Anti Federalist

Anti federalists, despite their they wasn't federalist. "In the new constitution, the president and senate have all the executive, and two-thirds of the legislative power...", the anti federalists believed government too much power. They resented the ideal that states were to be taxed for the well being of the federal militia, because they believed that having one is unnecessary, for "as long as we can preserve our unalienable rights, we are safety". The anti federalist were some what of "individual rights warriors". They believe that constitution needed the bill of rights to protect their individual rights, due to the overwhelming threat of power from the federal government.

My opinion

I disagree with the first quote because both government should work together to fix the problems. There's should be a give and take relations of the amount of power the federal government wants. They wanted a more centralized government.

The Anti Federalists or The Federalists

During the times of creating our nations constitution, i would most likely be more favorable to the anti federalist . The anti federalist worked to make sure the states have rights. They claimed that the national government held too much power, due to many to many loop holes in the proposed Constitution. Therefore they argue for a strict interpretation of the constitution to prevent any under the table deals.

summary

My conclusion is that even though it may seem that the federal government means wells in the constitution. They just love having power. I prefer the anti federalist because they made room for improvement and change. They fight for people, they didn't hate the federalist they wanted an opportunity for their voice to be heard.