5. Federalist Highlight
Free Government
Republicanism, federalism, and
separation of powers are
characteristics of free
government…free government is
designed to guard against the most
insidious danger of government by
the people--the tyranny of the many
over the few.
6. Anti-Federalist
Federalism will Destroy Liberty
“…It might be here shown, that the
power in the federal legislative, to
raise and support armies at
pleasure, as well in peace as in war,
and their control over the militia,
tend, not only to a consolidation of
the government, but the
destruction of liberty…” - Brutus
7. Anti-Federalist
President will have too much power
“… In the first place the office of
president of the United States
appears to me to be clothed with
such powers as are
dangerous...an elective king…to
lay the foundation for a military
government, which is the worst of
all tyrannies…”
- An Old Whig
8. Anti-Federalist
Large Republics Cannot be Free“
In so extensive a republic, the great
officers of government would
soon become above the controul
of the people...They will use the
power, when they have acquired
it, to the purposes of gratifying
their own interest and ambition...”
9. Federalist Highlight
Large Federal Republic (10)
In a federal republic, power is
divided vertically between a general
(federal) government and state
governments. Two levels of
government, each supreme in its
own sphere, can exercise powers
separately and directly on the
people.
10. Federalist Highlight
Republicanism (10)
A republican government is one "in
which the scheme of
representation takes place." It is
based on the consent of the
governed because power is
delegated to a small number of
citizens who are elected by the
rest.
11. Anti-Federalist
Separation of Powers is an Illusion
Such various, extensive, and
important powers combined in one
body of men, are inconsistent with
all freedom… "when the
legislative and executive powers
are united in the same person, or
in the same body of magistrates,
there can be no liberty…"
12. Federalist Highlight
Separation of Powers (51)
Executive: Power to appoint judges,
sole power to wage war
Legislative: Power to write laws, sole
power to declare war
Judicial: Sole power to interpret the
law and apply it to particular disputes
13. Federalist Highlight
Bill of Rights (84)
The Federalist papers are
remarkable for their opposition to
what later became the United States
Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments)
... many people feared that this
would later be interpreted as a list of
the only rights that people had.
14. Ratification
• What are some of the concerns of the
Anti-federalists?
• How do the Federalists address those
concerns?
