Anti-Federalists
Information on the Anti-Federalists
The Anti-Federalists
The AntiFederalists were a diverse coalition of people who opposed ratification of the constitution. Although less well organized than the Federalists, they also had an impressive group of leaders who especially prominent in state politics.
Antifederalists VS. Federalists
Antifederalists objections to the Constitution/ Federalist defenses of the Constitution
Antifederalists--states' rights advocates, backcountry farmers, poor farmers, the ill-educated and illiterate, debtors, & paper-money advocates./ Federalists-- Well educated and propertied class. Most lived in settled areas along the seaboard.
The Antifederalists and Federalists agreed on one thing, the future of the nation was at stake in the contest over the Constitution.
The importance of the Antifederalists
The Antifederalists were responsible for the bill of rights. After the Constitution was written and had been ratified by the requisite 9 states, the Antifederalists still maintained that it didn't do enough to protect individual rights and freedoms.