Compare And Contrast The Merits And Demerits By The Federalists

The people who supported The Constitution, were called themselves as Federalists and their opponent were known as Antifederalists. The Constitution’s merits and demerits were printed in the newspapers and pamphlets by both parties, and circulated among the American public created a point by point discussion, explaining the constitution. Merits by the Federalist, earned interest for Judges, legislators and other public. The Antifederalist author Brutus (Elbridge Germy and George Mason) argued and defended that, the free republic could survive only in the area with people with same values, cultures and history. He argued, for a too large republic nation, it will become contentious and the common good will be sacrificed. He was confident that,

They also believed that, the large republic politics would act like a filter and it will be able to select skilled and talented leaders. They were confident that the federal system would act like a firewall and it will help to isolate factions within the individual states and preventing from spreading their negative agendas to other states (p. 149). The federalists supported a strong central government and opposed Bill of Rights unnecessary and harmful to liberty. The Antifederalists opposed strong central government and believed Bill of Rights are necessary to protect liberty. The Federalists didn’t like militia and preferred Federal standing army and they believed the Republicanism can survive only in large diverse republic, which is suitable to our country. The Antifederalists were against Federal standing army and they preferred militia. They also believed republicanism can survive only in a small republic and it is not suitable for our country. Federalists believed checks and balances are the preferred method to prevent political corruption while Antifederalists believed in virtue to prevent corruption in a republican government (P.

By the summer of 1787, the need for prefacing or inserting the Bill of Rights in the constitutional document was emerging as a deliberate sense of the community. The correspondence between Madison and Jefferson was critical part of the adoption of Bill of Rights. Madison explained in the correspondence that, the necessity of Bill of Rights to secure the civil and religious rights of the individuals from the majority faction. Jefferson responded that, Bill of Rights was unnecessary and warned that it will entitle the people to go against the government (Federalists). Most sanguine Federalists believed that unless some provision was made for amendment, the ratification of The Constitution will be harder. They chose John Hancock as an ideal person, since he gained support from both Federalists and Antifederalists. They believed that Hancock will follow the will of the majority. On 1788 January 31st, Hancock presented his recommendatory amendments. He advocated that, the constitution be unconditionally ratified with nine recommendatory amendments. The convention voted for it and there by ratify the constitution (The role of John