Following the framing of the constitution and the conclusion of the constitutional convention, political debate quickly developed as the ratification process began. As state representatives returned to their states, the press had already began shaping public opinion with the dispersion of the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers. Federalists such as Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, and Anti-Federalists such as George Mason, Thomas Paine and George Clinton wrote with the intention of influencing the opinions of the American populace and the state legislatures charged with ratifying the constitution. These factions created the first instance of political parties, and the compromise between the two during the debate of ratification had a great influence on the American constitution. A primary …show more content…
The Anti-Federalists viewed the constitution as an encompassing set of guidelines for the United States’ future government. They believed the document was not meant to be simply a revision or amendment to the Articles of confederation. As such, DeWitt argued that any changes the colonists already felt they needed must be included at the induction of the document. Due to the nature of the people, differences of interests, and mannerisms or local prejudice would stand in the way of any alteration to be made. Aggrandized with the strict majority requirements to pass such an amendment, it was believed that use of drastic armed force would be necessary to finalize any such change. DeWitt and the Anti-Federalists further believed that if amendments were to be forced through into the constitution it would eliminate the common man’s feeling of amity and would limit the progress of change. As the party looked to the future, they concluded that if the people of the country were to enter into a compact such as the constitution provided, then they must give