The delegates at the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787, but 9 of the 13 states had to ratify the Constitution in order for it to become the "Law of the Land."
Not everyone agreed that Federalism was the best way to run the new country.
Two groups emerged: Federalists who supported the Constitution and Anti Federalists who opposed it. Federalists liked the Constitution the way that it was, but the Anti Federalists thought it needed more protection for individual rights.
Each of the 13 states held a convention to debate whether it should ratify the Constitution. Delegates gave speeches and wrote and published pamphlets trying to persuade other delegates to support their point of view.
Who Needs a Central Government?
In America’s earliest days, the Founders experimented with several types of government. The first one was organized under an agreement called the Articles of Confederation. It created a central government that had very little power. Individual state governments kept most of the power. This gave the states a lot of independence, but it also created problems. So the Founders tried again, and this time they wrote the Constitution. Signed by representatives from every state, the Constitution created a stronger central government that shared power with the states. The Constitution couldn’t be passed until it was approved by the states, and when it was sent out for approval, a raging debate started! Many people feared a strong central government, so they feared the Constitution.
Anti-Federalists: Down with Central Government!
In a system where a central government shares power with smaller units of government, such as states, the term federal refers to the central government. On one side of the Constitution debate, anti-federalists wanted a small central government. They believed local governments best understood what citizens needed and would best protect citizens’ freedom. Anti-federalists opposed parts of the Constitution they thought limited the power of the states. They feared that a strong central government would overpower state governments, and eventually state governments would lose their independence and influence. They also didn’t like that the original Constitution did not guarantee citizens any specific rights. They feared that a central government would become so powerful it would be just like having a king.
Federalists: Yay for Central Government!
Federalists wanted a strong national government. They believed that a strong national government was necessary if the states were going to band together to form a nation. A strong national government could represent the nation to other countries. It could also control individual states that would not cooperate with the rest.
Federalists also believed that a strong national government could best protect individual citizens’ rights and freedoms. Federalists were not afraid of the central government created by the Constitution because it had three branches—the executive, legislative, and judicial—that could limit each other’s power. That way, the central government could not become too powerful.
In the end, the Federalists and Anti Federalists agreed to a compromise, they decided to add ten amendments, or changes, to the Constitution. These amendments were known as the Bill of Rights, they guaranteed a list of citizen's rights. The Anti Federalists were pleased with this addition because the Bill of Rights limited the central government’s power.