Federalist or Anti-Federalist: what Side you Choose?

During the era of our founding fathers, I would be more favorable of the Anti-federalists. The Anti-federalists believed that the central government held too much power, not giving the states their own rights, such as managing their own revenue. The power that was granted to the federal government was derived from the Articles of Confederation. Though they disagreed with the Constitution, they were more agreeable when the Bill of Rights was introduced. The Anti-federalists believed that the Bill of Rights was a priority to guarantee the individual rights.

The Federalist believe that a strong central government would be necessary for the newly developed nation. In the quote, ""In republican government, the legislative authority necessarily predominates, they are express that the national government has more power over the state's government. They believe, in not only a strong central government, but in creating a national bank and taxing the states for federal programs, such as the military. The Federalists favored commerce and banking over agriculture, which is seen as they favor the creation of the national bank, unlike the Anti-Federalists.

As well as their views of the national bank and central government, the Federalists agreed on the matter of abolishing slavery, which is demonstrated in the following quote: ""It is essential to such a government that it be derived from the great body of the society, not from an inconsiderable proportion or a favored class of it...""

Throughout the conflict, two plans were brought into the picture to elucidate the issue: The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. The Virginia Plan presented a strong central government that would be composed of three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial branch. Federalists from large states favored this plan, in that, it would cede more power to those 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 persons holding their offices during pleasure for a limited period, or during good behavior.

Most of the Anti-Federalists weren't completely in opposition to Federalism; they just wanted the states to have more power. Some wanted to focus on introducing a Bill of Rights which would protect the rights of the citizens, although, others misprized the Constitution as a whole. As long as we can preserve our unalienable rights [life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness], we are in safety. Consequently, they supported the argument that the Constitution needed the bill of rights to protect their individual rights, due to the overwhelming threat of power from the federal government. They refused to endorse the Constitution unless the Bill of Rights was included.

Nonetheless, the Federalists believed that the Constitution was perfect as it was; they insisted for its ratification immediately. Federalists supported strong central government. ""A pure democracy can admit no cure for the mischiefs 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."" However, a centralized government could potentially withhold all power of the government from the states. This created a problem, as leaving this much power in the hands of men could eventually corrupt them and allow them to abuse their power.

Though it may seem that the Federalists meant well with the Constitution, they failed to recognize the fact that it emblematize how greedy they were. The Anti-Federalists saw this, and they attempted to preserve some powers, not only for the states, but also for the citizens of the United States. Most Anti-Federalists refused to ratify the Constitution unless a Bill of Rights was added, which protected individual rights. Therefore, they believed that the federal government would gradually become amoral and the basic rights of all citizens would be preempted. The Anti Federalists did not hate the Federalists; they only wished their voices be heard, and for the federal government to share some powers within the state's government.

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