Classical Republicanism Dbq

Antifederalists were against the ratification of the Constitution because they believed in classical republicanism. Monroe and Kersh (2016) define classical republicanism as, “ a democratic idea … that calls on citizens to participate in public affairs, seek the public interest, shun private gain, and defer to natural leaders,” (p. 69). The Antifederalists wanted citizens to take part in government so that public interests would be well represented so that the minority of the population would not have more power than the majority. The Antifederalists had four main reasons why they were against the ratification of the Constitution. Firstly, according to Monroe and Kersh (2016) “it stripped political control from citizens and placed it in a

The Antifederalists did not want a constitution to allow potentially recreate the issues that the colonists had fought so hard to get away from. Furthermore, Monroe and Kersh (2016) established the Antifederalists believed that, “standing armies and navies were a threat to peace and liberty,” (p.69.) Monroe and Kersh (2016) mentioned, “the Quartering Act (1765), which required colonial assemblies to billet British troops…. Suddenly, the Redcoats seemed like an occupying army,” (p.46). The newly freed colonists still remembered how the having to house the British militia during times of peace felt like a threat to a peace and therefore the Antifederalists did not want to ratify the Constitution because there was nothing to prevent the liberty of citizens from being threatened again. Lastly, Monroe and Kersh (2016) declared “ the Antifederalists hammered away at the Constitution’s missing piece, a bill of rights,”

The Federalists wrote pieces of propaganda that explained why they supported the Constitution. Monroe and Kersh (2016) stated that “Federalist no. 10 argues, surprisingly, that a large national government can protect liberty more effectively than small local governments,” (p.70). The Federalists supported a large national government because if small locals governments had more control, according to Monroe and Kersh (2016), “ … factions - groups that pursue their self- interest at the expense of others,” would form (p. 70). If factions were created, a single group would have more control because they would want to benefit themselves. Moreover, Monroe and Kersh (2016) claimed that, “ in Federalist no. 51, ‘if men were angels, no government would be necessary.’ If popular government is going to survive, it must be organized to protect minorities from majorities who are going to pursue their own self-interests, ” (p.70). They believed that the central government must be stronger than local governments to prevent individuals or groups from attaining too much