Friday, March 23, 2012

Would you favor the Federalists or the Anti-federalists? Why?

This answer depends on your political ideas and, to some extent, what your socioeconomic circumstances were.


For the most part, people who were strongly involved in the market economy supported the Federalists.  These were people who were involved in buying and selling goods.  They might have sold imported goods in stores or they might have exported cotton from their plantations.  Conversely, people who were more self-sufficient favored the Antifederalists.  These were the many people who farmed for themselves and who largely just traded with their neighbors for anything they did not grow or make on their own.  You would likely have decided which side to support based on your economic circumstances.


You might also have made this decision based on your political ideas.  Do you think that the federal government is likely to threaten your freedom?  If so, you would probably be an Antifederalist because they wanted the states to have most of the power.  Do you think that the common people are too likely to make really bad laws that will weaken our country?  If so, you would probably support the Federalists because they wanted a strong central government that would be less closely tied to the people’s opinions.  You would probably have chosen between the Federalists and the Antifederalists based on your economic circumstances and/or your political beliefs.

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