What were the arguments for the anti-federalist?
there are in fact two anti-federalist movements. One in the 1780’s sought to keep the colonies under the articles of confederation. They opposed the constitution and a strong federal government. They felt that a strong, central government would rob states of rights and create a oppourtunity for a monachy to be re-established. SOme even believed that government under the articles was too weak but under the constitution it would be too strong. The other in the early 1800’s was simpley about aggressive nationalistic tendencies that Alexander Hamilton was promoting as the secretery of the treasury. The Democractic-Republican Party (headed by Thomas Jefferson) fought the centralization of power while advocating popular rights. Recapping some of the central issues. States rights, opposition to a strong national government, opposition to National Navy, national Banking system and a healthy disregard for the federal couts.
