Advanced Placement United States History

Federalists

Antifederalists

Supreme Court should have the power to . . .

No checks on power of Supreme Court à Supreme Court is too powerful

Supreme Court judges should be chosen by the people so the judicial authority is not so independent

Constitution was written in secret without the will of the people

In order to respect persons, most decisions of conscience and dispute should be kept local

Basic individual rights need to be protected

Separate states would act like separate countries – bickering, wars between states, etc.

States would sacrifice individual rights to protect themselves (standing armies, etc).

Larger states would override (conquer) smaller states

America needs a national standing army to keep peace

If America can keep the peace, we will remain at peace because we lack aggressors surrounding us – a large standing is not necessary

Centralized army allows for better training and organization

Strong central government can keep the power of the army in check

Being able to threaten use of military force will result in less need to actually use military force

Strong central government would be able to mobilize state militias in the defense of other states

Power to raise army = legislative, not executive.

House of representatives needs more power – cannot make law or impeach the president without senate approval

Because of the way senators are elected, there is always a majority of incumbent senators à aristocracy

Representatives in the House need to be elected annually to keep them from being under too much control of their constituents

Fear of federalist aristocracy forgetting the middle and lower class

Fear of a large army giving central government tyrannical power

Fear that Republic is a smoke screen for aristocracy- fear that HR will be powerless & Senate/Pres will hold unilateral power

No state should enter into individual treaties with other countries à avoid feuds, different allegiances could tear US apart (like Europeans during WWI).

No state should impose duties on imports or exports (interstates commerce) à standardized rates will help trade & unity & economy

The federal government should not be allowed to become tyrannical.

No state should hold standing armies or navies à keep peace between states (unity)

State legislatures should be bound by oath to support Constitution

Adoption of Constitution will lead to civil war because it establishes aristocracy

Congress has power to regulate their own jobs/salaries/etc., and is therefore too independent of the people

Change of government is always destabilizing, and especially when recovering from war

Separate regulations for states will cause conflict & competition between countries, causing international and domestic unrest

All states will benefit together from a united trading policy

States have local advantages and separate interests.

Monopolies need to be avoided.

Navy needed to protect our trades from other countries

Separate states would be weak victims of foreign attack

Navy is able to enforce rights of neutrality

Individual states will benefit from a universal navy – building the navy = commerce

All states will participate in the navy

Who will have control over the navy? Congress should have control, but be limited (all states should agree on specifics of this power)

Separation of powers, checks & balances

Strong central leadership is vital to the preservation of the union

The Constitution Convention was supposed to revise the Articles of Confederation

Constitution gives up natural rights

Strong central government will lead to tyranny

Supreme Court: would take away powers from the local courts that would be necessary for order & security

The Constitution gives to the national government many of the same powers that the Articles of Confederation gave to it.

Supreme Court should be bound to the central government – otherwise the states will always override the authority of the Supreme Court

Elected representatives are bound by oath to the Constitution à Rule of Law

Where is the restraint in the power of the congress when the Constitution gives them extensive & unnecessary powers? How can the Rule of Law be enforced without the use of force?

“Necessary and Proper” clause is too loose – how can it be defined? Giving the Congress so much power makes the Bill of Rights useless.