Anti-federalists

Anti-Federalists in the United States

Anti-Federalists

Anti-Federalists, early political party of the United States, precursor of the Democratic-Republican Party lead by Thomas Jefferson. Originally, the term designated the opponents in the United States to the ratification of the federal Constitution following its adoption by the Constitutional Convention, which met in Philadelphia in 1787. Subsequently, the term was meant to signify the advocation of states’ rights.

Several representatives of the Second Continental Congress, who convened to vote on the Declaration of Independence in 1776, favored establishing a strong central United States government to supplant the authority of Great Britain prior to a declaration of separation (see American Revolution). These aims to establish a strong central government were thwarted, however, in the writing and ratification by the states of the Articles of Confederation (the nation’s first constitution). The articles represented the political aspirations of agrarian citizens and small-property owners supporting the war against Great Britain. The Anti-Federalists were proponents of the articles, which allowed for strong state governments. The party feared that in the contests between the states and the new central government envisaged under the Constitution, the states would lose their sovereign powers.

An influential and substantial group, the Anti-Federalist party prevented the ratification of the Constitution by the North Carolina and Rhode Island conventions until 1789 and 1790, respectively. Following the inauguration of the new federal government in 1789, the Anti-Federalists accepted the leadership of Thomas Jefferson in national politics and provided the principal support of the Democratic-Republican Party, which was renamed the Democratic party in 1828. (1)

Concept of Anti-federalists

In the U.S., in the context of the U.S. Constitution and Federalism, Anti-federalists has the following meaning: The name given to opponents of ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1787-1788. After ratification, Anti-Federalists continued to argue for strong state governments and a weaker national government. (Source of this definition of Anti-federalists : University of Texas)