Federalists and Anti-Federalists Debate
11th Grade · Social Studies · 50 min
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Learning Objective
I can compare the arguments of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
- 1
The Federalist Papers, consisting of 85 essays, were written to explain the Constitution and encourage ratification.
- 2
Anti-Federalists like Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and Samuel Adams feared the Constitution made the federal government too strong.
- 3
The promise of a Bill of Rights, which would guarantee citizens' rights, was crucial to gaining Anti-Federalist support for the Constitution.
