Federalists vs Anti-Federalists

In the beginning of our country, the United States of America, the original two parties who helped create the Constitution were the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Parties. Even then, our Founding Fathers, were separated into two factions who did not see eye to eye.

The Federalist were prominent businessmen who had fought in the American Revolution. The most well known Federalist was the 2nd President of the United States John Adams who was the very first Vice President of the United States when George Washington served as President. John Adams stood for a fiscally sound and strong nationalistic government, but disagreed with Alexander Hamilton's economic program that involved the Federal Government to incur the debts of all the states caused by the American Revolution. Hamilton's program would have caused a "national debt", the means to pay it off by having a national bank. Even then "national debt" was an issue, but the Hamilton Economic Program was not enforced because John Adams pointed out the ludicrousness of a country starting off with a "National Debt".

The Anti-Federalists, also fought in the American Revolution, were pro what we now know as The Bill of Rights. They were mostly farmers and workers, not the prominent business owners. They were opposed to a strong nationalistic government. They opposed the originally drafted US Constitution, until the Bill of Rights were added as Amendments, insisting it made the National Government too strong and the ability to wield too much power over the States. They were pro very small national government involvement, have a national government for the sole purpose of giving other countries a way to reach the States and communicate with them with very little authority in order to preserve the sovereignty of the States. A very famous Anti-Federalist was Patrick Henry, who gave many speeches about freedom, liberty, and the hazards of having a national government. The Anti-Federalists did not want an authoritarian national government, fearing it would try and take away their rights including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". They wanted to maintain EVERY THING listed in the Bill of Rights. Why they diligently fought to have it added to the original US Constitution as the first set of Amendments.

As we know, the US Constitution plus the new Amendments (known as The Bill of Rights) was ratified and accepted by the original states. Even though the Federalists wanted a strong and fiscally sound national government, they too did not wish to lose any rights, especially those listed in The Bill of Rights. Their idea of a strong national government equaled a government with three executive branches, neither over each other instead overseeing one another, that would protect the rights of the citizens. Their idea of a strong national government was one "for the people, and by the people". The US Constitution is each citizens and states contract with the Federal (national) Government. The Federalists further felt a fiscally sound (one without debt) would be the best. Why originally our dollars were on the gold standard, backed by gold. The Federalists and the Anti-Federalists did agree that the national government should have funds and NEVER exceed them.

For more information of the origination of the United States of America please read the writings and speeches of Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Adams, and all other Founding Fathers including the books about the Continental Congress, and all Founding Fathers.

For a list of Founding Fathers please see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founding_Fathers_of_the_United_States

Arguments of the Anti-Federalists view that cemented the Bill of Rights inclusion into the US Constitution: http://www.pinzler.com/ushistory/argantfedsupp.html

The Bill of Rights: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html