Anti-Federalism - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anti-Federalism refers to a diverse group of Americans who opposed the ratification of the 1787 United States Constitution.^[1] Anti-Federalists believed a strong central government could become corrupt and tyrannical, as they believed England had become. They wanted a weak central government just as they had with the Articles of Confederation.^[2] One of the many points that the Anti-Federalists disagreed with the Federalists was that the Constitution did not have a Bill of Rights.^[3] Federalists argued the Constitution did not need a Bill of Rights, but agreed finally to add several amendments to the Constitution.^[3] The House of Representatives approved 17 amendments. The Senate passed on 12 of these for ratification by the states.^[3] Of the 12, 10 were ratified by the 13 states, becoming known as the United States Bill of Rights.^[3] Virginia was the last to ratify the amendments on December 15, 1791.^[3]

Under the new government, many Anti-Federalists created the Democratic-Republican Party.

This short article about the United States can be made longer. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.