The Progression From The Articles of Confederation to The Constitution As a Result of Anti-Federalist, and Federalist Debate

Looking back in history (1781-1787) at the debate over ratification of the Constitution we can see that the making of the constitution was a long drawn out battle between the federalists and the Anti-Federalists. There were concerns as to the inherent weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, such as the lack of action during Shay’s Rebellion, the issue over taxation, as well as the problematic consensus required by all states to change any one of the Articles. There was a fear that if given too much power the executive leader would become like the king they had just fought a revolution to free themselves from. This fear of giving too much power to a centralized government was what made the Articles so weak. The purpose of this paper is to examine the two sides of the debate of constitutional ratification, The Federalists (and the Federalist papers) as well as the Anti-Federalists (and the Anti-Federalist Papers) and look at their influence on the Constitution. By comparing the essentials of The Constitution as well as The Articles of Confederation we will be able to see the differences between the two. These differences will show us not only the weaknesses of the Articles but the strength of the new constitution. A second objective, where possible make what “if” statements as to what would have happened if the Articles were not replaced, and the Constitution was not written.

The political consensus to work together as a collection, rather than as individual states was agreed on after the American Revolution. States started to collaborate and work together during the Albany Conference in 1754 when Benjamin Franklin suggested a colonial collaboration that resembled a more basic version of Articles than what they eventually ...

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...Anti-Federalists made very valid points about the threat of executive leading we can see in the end that not only did the Federalists decisions stand but that we are all the better for it. These changes have not only aided us financially but has united Americans under one banner that we can all fight for.

Works Cited

Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison, John Jay, and Clinton Rossiter. The Federalist Papers (Signet Classics). New York: Signet Classics, 2003.

Herbert J. Storing, Murray Dry. What the Anti-Federalists were for. University of Chicago Press, 1981.

Ketcham, George Mason/Ralph. Opposition to a Unitary Executive /The Anti-Federalist Papers. NA/New York: NA/New American Library , Federal Vonvention of 1787/1986.

"Federalist & Antifederalist Positions." N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2015. .