Group+9

IX. The Ratification debate: Federalists (Ch 14) KO, Mallory, Ed, Erin A. What were the Federalists’ response to the Anti-Federalists (how did they answer the Anti-Federalists’ concerns)?

The Anti- Federalists believed that one republican government could not govern or handle a "large and diverse nation."

Wrote a series of essays known as the Federalist Papers supporting ratification of the Constitution.

James Madison, a Federalist, argued that factions were the greatest dangers to overcoming a government. A faction, a group of people fighting for something, would fight for their own self interests as opposed to the common good for the whole society. He stated that if the faction included a majority of the people, this may pose a problem to the government because the government would lose to the people. However, he argued, that if people voted for a large, diverse republic, they would vote for several people that the population likes. Since the people would elect government officials, choosing people to lead is better than a tyranny. Furthermore, having a large republican government may be good because if our nation had many factions, then none of them would be able to create a majority. This is especially because the leaders for our nation would have been chosen by the people, meaning that the people want them to lead the nation instead of individual factions taking over. Having a large republic will decrease the danger of factions, and these chosen leaders would most likely see beyond the narrow view of regular citizens.

The Federalists also argued that the Constitution's organization of the government was the best way to promote the goals of the Republic. The system of checks and balances and separation of powers which includes the three branches (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial) would the most effective way to distribute the powers of the government, which would lead to a pleased society.

Also said each state had a Bill of Rights so it would be redundant to include one. But, finally, as a compromise, agreed to include one which won over many Anti-Federalists.

Constitution ratified in 1789.