What was the Anti-Federalists biggest issue with the Constitution in 1787?
Asked by: Vincenzo Larkin DDS | Last update: May 23, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (68 votes)
Anti-Federalists argued that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government, while taking too much power away from state and local governments.
What was the biggest Anti-Federalist complaint against the 1787 Constitution?
- the excessive power of the national government at the expense of the state government;
- the disguised monarchic powers of the president;
- apprehensions about a federal court system and its control over the states;
Why did the Anti-Federalist oppose the U.S. Constitution signed in 1787?
The Anti-Federalists were against the ratification of the Constitution for many reasons. The Anti-Federalists believed that the Constitution, as drafted, would lead to a loss of individual liberties, an erosion of state sovereignty, and the potential for the rise of tyranny.
What was a major objection to the Constitution by the Anti-Federalists?
They were concerned that the Constitution did not contain a bill of rights, something many colonial charters and state constitutions had included. Secondly, the Constitution significantly reduced state sovereignty in favor of a stronger central government.
Why did the Anti-Federalists disagree with the Constitution?
The Anti-Federalists
One faction opposed the Constitution because they thought stronger government threatened the sovereignty of the states. Others argued that a new centralized government would have all the characteristics of the despotism of Great Britain they had fought so hard to remove themselves from.
Constitutional Convention: Federalists v. Anti-Federalists
What was the Anti-Federalists biggest problem with the Constitution?
Anti-Federalists argued that the Constitution gave too much power to the federal government, while taking too much power away from state and local governments.
What problem did Anti-Federalists have with the Constitution quizlet?
Anti-federalists feared that with the powers and authorities given to the national government over the states, the government might turn into a tyranny with too much power in the hands of government leaders.
On what issue did Federalists and Anti-Federalists disagree most strongly?
Federalists were those who favored the Constitution and a more powerful national republic. Anti-Federalists were those who opposed the ratification of the Constitution and advocated for the small, localized government.
Why was the Constitutional Convention held in 1787?
The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia met between May and September of 1787 to address the problems of the weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation.
What were the major objections to the Constitution?
It soon circulated widely and became the basic template for Anti-Federalist opposition to the Constitution, concisely articulating many of the complaints that would reverberate throughout the ratification struggle: the House of Representatives was too small to represent such a large nation; the President was ...
Why did the Federalists and Anti-Federalists disagree on whether the Constitution sufficiently protected individual rights and promoted the common good?
Antifederalists argued that a bill of rights was necessary because, the supremacy clause in combination with the necessary and proper and general welfare clauses would allow implied powers that could endanger rights. Federalists rejected the proposition that a bill of rights was needed.
What issues of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 were resolved by compromises?
The Great Compromise settled matters of representation in the federal government. The Three-Fifths Compromise settled matters of representation when it came to the enslaved population of southern states and the importation of enslaved Africans. The Electoral College settled how the president would be elected.
Which statement would an Anti-Federalist be most likely to agree with?
The Anti-Federalist be most likely to agree with the most political power should rest with the states. Therefore, option (C) is correct.
What did Federalists argue during the 1787 convention?
Federalists defended the Constitution's strengthened national government, with its greater congressional powers, more powerful executive, and independent judiciary. They argued that the new government supported the principles of separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism.
Why did Patrick Henry oppose the Constitution?
Henry feared Constitution would give federal government too much power.
What is the main reason why Anti-Federalist states agreed to ratify the Constitution?
The Anti-Federalists eventually agreed to ratify the Constitution because the Federalists promised to include a bill of rights to protect individual liberties. This was a key concern of the Anti-Federalists, who objected to the power the Constitution gave the federal government.
What were the problems with the Constitution of 1787?
It is no secret that the Constitution signed on that fateful day of September 17, 1787 was highly flawed. It denied women and minorities, especially black individuals, their basic human rights for decades to come. It protected slavery. It denied civil liberties that should have been guaranteed to all.
Who were the anti-federalists and what did they believe about the US Constitution?
The first in the long line of states' rights advocates, they feared the authority of a single national government, upper-class dominance, inadequate separation of powers, and loss of immediate control over local affairs. The Anti-Federalists were strong in the key states of Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia.
Which of the following were tensions at the Constitutional Convention of 1787?
Expert-Verified Answer. At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, key tensions included the conflicts between slave states and nonslave states, the debate over amending or replacing the Articles of Confederation, and the interests of large states versus small states.
What was the biggest problem with the anti federalist argument?
The Anti-Federalists feared that the new Constitution gave the national government too much power. And that this new government—led by a new group of distant, out-of-touch political elites—would: Seize all political power. Swallow up the states—the governments that were closest to the people themselves.
What was the biggest concern for the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists?
The Federalists contended that a stronger central government would provide a solid base from which New York could grow and prosper. The anti-Federalists clamored for a bill of rights and fought to preserve the autonomy of the state against federal encroachments.
What was a problem for the Federalists in 1788?
In 1788, a significant problem for the Federalists was option C: Many states were not ready to ratify the Constitution. After the U.S. Constitution was drafted in 1787, it was sent to the states for ratification. However, many of the states were hesitant to approve it.
What were three arguments the Anti-Federalists had against the Constitution?
The Anti-Federalists feared that the Constitution gave the new national government too much power and that this new government—led by a new group of distant, out-of-touch political elites—would seize all political power; swallow up the states—the governments that were closest to the people themselves; and abuse the ...
Which of the following is the best example of a major dispute during the Constitutional Convention?
The Virginia Plan vs. the New Jersey Plan is the best example of a major dispute during the Constitutional Convention.
What are the arguments against federalism?
THE DRAWBACKS OF FEDERALISM. Federalism also comes with drawbacks. Chief among them are economic disparities across states, race-to-the-bottom dynamics (i.e., states compete to attract business by lowering taxes and regulations), and the difficulty of taking action on issues of national importance.