Distrust of large commercial interests and a preference for an agrarian society. Who Were the Anti-Federalists? Opposing the Federalists were the Anti-Federalists, a diverse group who feared the concentration of power in a distant capital.
The Anti-Federalists' Constitution Compromise: Balancing Power and Protecting Local Control
In response, delegates met in Philadelphia in 1787 to draft a new framework for governance. This coalition was composed of wealthy merchants, landowners, and professionals who believed that a strong national authority was necessary to ensure stability, security, and economic prosperity.
Many Anti-Federalists were farmers, small-town residents, and those who had fought for independence wary of creating a new tyranny reminiscent of British rule. Primacy of state governments in local matters.
The Anti-Federalists' Push for a Constitution Ratification Compromise
They preferred a decentralized system where state governments retained significant autonomy, believing that local authorities were more responsive to the needs of the people. The national government lacked the authority to tax, regulate interstate commerce, or maintain a standing army, leading to economic instability and internal unrest.
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