Merchants & plantation owners, weathier than Antifederalists
They were supporters of the constitution, and believed it was a necessary improvement on the Articles
James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay
Creation of fed. govt. to unite states into a nation
Focused arguments one inadequacies of Articles and benefits of national govt. under const.
Strong central govt. would foster commercial growth
Viewed society as diverse groups, const. would make sure no one group had complete control
Weak union of states = country more vulnerable to internal and external dissension
Problems of factions could be solved by controlling their effects, leaders could put national interest ahead of factional interests
Opposed to creation of a federal government
Mostly farmers and tradesmen
Believed each state should be own sovereign government
Consisted of local leaders who feared losing power under constitution
Patrick Henry, George Mason, Edmund Rudolf
Const. would create new, untested form of govt.
Didn't make sense to throw out existing govt.
Federalists overstated current political problems
Framers of const. were an elitist group under a veil of secrecy, violated provisions under Articles
Arguments similar to Revolutionary times
Associated centralized power with tyranny
Const. was step away from Democratic goals of Revolution towards evils of monarchy and aristocracy
Const. would give pres. too much power
Congress would be too aristocratic
Criticized the doc for a lack of Bill of Rights
Centralization of power = decline of political society towards tyranny
One govt. could not control such a large country