What was the main argument against a new US constitution?

Asked by: Margarete Grant  |  Last update: April 5, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (31 votes)

The Anti- Federalists claimed the Constitution gave the central government too much power, and without a Bill of Rights the people would be at risk of oppression.

What were the arguments against the new constitution?

The Anti-Federalists opposed the ratification of the 1787 U.S. Constitution because they feared that the new national government would be too powerful and thus threaten individual liberties, given the absence of a bill of rights.

What was one of the main arguments of those who opposed the Constitution?

The Supremacy Clause generated significant controversy during debates over the Constitution's ratification. Anti-Federalist opponents of the Constitution argued that the Clause would make the national government overly powerful and infringe on state sovereignty.

What were the 2 most debated issues about the new constitution?

The major debates were over representation in Congress, the powers of the president, how to elect the president (Electoral College), slave trade, and a bill of rights.

What is the main argument of the US Constitution?

Its first three words – “We The People” – affirm that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens. The supremacy of the people through their elected representatives is recognized in Article I, which creates a Congress consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives.

The Constitution, the Articles, and Federalism: Crash Course US History #8

19 related questions found

What was the biggest strongest argument against the Constitution?

The Anti- Federalists claimed the Constitution gave the central government too much power, and without a Bill of Rights the people would be at risk of oppression.

What was the main issue of the Constitution?

A chief aim of the Constitution as drafted by the Convention was to create a government with enough power to act on a national level, but without so much power that fundamental rights would be at risk.

What were the 3 major issues at the Constitution?

Debates erupted over representation in Congress, over slavery, and over the new executive branch.

What three main issues were addressed by the new constitution?

Although the Constitution was eventually ratified, debates over the role of the central government, the powers of state governments, and the rights of individuals remain at the heart of present-day constitutional issues.

What were the major debates over the Constitution?

When the 55 delegates gathered in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation, there were several major issues on the agenda to discuss including representation, state versus federal powers, executive power, slavery, and commerce.

Who was against the Constitution and why?

The Anti-Federalists fought hard against the Constitution because it created a powerful central government that reminded them of the one they had just overthrown, and it lacked a bill of rights.

Which group was against the New Constitution?

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 the nickname for the Connecticut plan?

The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise of 1787 or Sherman Compromise, was an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that in part defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the United States Constitution.

What was a major criticism of the Constitution?

Five of their most significant objections to the Constitution are summarized in the excerpts that follow: that replacement of the Articles of Confederation was unnecessary; that the new government would give rise to a privileged aristocracy; that a stronger central government would obliterate the states; that a large, ...

What were the objections to the new 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 ...

What were the 3 main arguments the Anti-Federalists made against the new US Constitution?

3. What arguments did the anti-federalists make against ratifying the Constitution? A argument there were three basic issues, whether the Constitution would maintain the republican government, the national government would have too much power, and the bill of rights was needed in the Constitution.

What was one of the main reasons George Mason opposed the Constitution?

As a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, Mason refused to sign the Constitution and lobbied against its ratification in his home state, believing the document as drafted gave too much power to a central government and was incomplete absent a bill of rights to guarantee individual liberty.

Who opposed the New Jersey plan?

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia voted for the motion. New York, New Jersey, and Delaware voted against it.

What was a major problem in the first Constitution?

With the passage of time, weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation became apparent; Congress commanded little respect and no support from state governments anxious to maintain their power. Congress could not raise funds, regulate trade, or conduct foreign policy without the voluntary agreement of the states.

What were the 3 major reasons against the Constitution?

Top 5 Reasons Why Anti-Federalists Opposed the Constitution.
  • There was no list of the people's rights.
  • The national government was given too much power.
  • The country was too big for the people to be represented by one national government.

Why did the New Constitution not abolish slavery?

The framers of the Constitution believed that concessions on slavery were the price for the support of southern delegates for a strong central government. They were convinced that if the Constitution restricted the slave trade, South Carolina and Georgia would refuse to join the Union.

Who is above the law in the United States?

One important value in American society is that everyone has equal justice under the law. Another important idea is the “rule of law.” The rule of law means that everyone must obey the law and no one is above the law. This means that the government and its leaders must also obey the law.

What was one of the major flaws of the Constitution?

It brilliantly articulated the idea of fundamental equality — human equality. It beautifully articulated the notion that government's power flows from the people, and that government serves the people. But it was fundamentally flawed in preserving and propping up slavery, that ultimate form of inequality.

What's the difference between a right and a liberty?

In short, civil liberties protect an individual's personal freedoms, whereas civil rights advance specific standards of equality. The First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech, which safeguards an individual's right to express opinions without government censorship, is a textbook civil liberty.