Which of the following is a true statement about the Federalists and Anti-Federalists?
Group of answer choices
a. Both Federalists and Anti-Federalists feared a strong central government would lead to the creation of a political aristocracy who would impose tariffs on trade.
b. Both Federalists and Anti-Federalists distrusted the power of state governments.
c. Federalists argued, the diversity of religion tolerated by the Constitution would prevent the formation of a political community with shared values and interests.
d. Federalists were pessimistic about human nature, and Anti-Federalists were more optimistic about human nature. Anti-Federalists believed in the decency of the common man.
e. The Anti-Federalists preferred a nonelected judiciary and indirectly elected the president.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is d. Federalists were pessimistic about human nature, and Anti-Federalists were more optimistic about human nature. Anti-Federalists believed in the decency of the common man.
Explanation:
The Federalists and Anti-Federalists had differing views on human nature and government structure during the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
- Federalists’ View of Human Nature:
Federalists, such as James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, were generally pessimistic about human nature. They believed that people were often driven by selfish interests and that a strong central government was necessary to prevent chaos and preserve order. They thought that the common people could not always be trusted to make decisions for the good of society, especially when they lacked education or experience. This led Federalists to advocate for a system that included checks and balances and a more controlled government structure, where power was concentrated in a federal system. - Anti-Federalists’ View of Human Nature:
On the other hand, Anti-Federalists, such as Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry, were more optimistic about human nature. They believed in the basic goodness and decency of the common man. Anti-Federalists feared that a strong central government would oppress individual freedoms and give too much power to elites. They preferred a more decentralized system of government, where states and local communities had more power to protect individual rights and freedoms. Their concern was that a powerful central government would lead to corruption and abuse of power, diminishing the influence of ordinary citizens.
Thus, d is the correct answer because it accurately reflects the fundamental disagreement between the two groups about human nature and government.
Why the other options are incorrect:
- a. Both Federalists and Anti-Federalists feared the concentration of power, but the Federalists did not necessarily fear tariffs or the creation of a political aristocracy in the same way Anti-Federalists did.
- b. The Federalists trusted a strong central government, while the Anti-Federalists were wary of centralization, preferring stronger state powers.
- c. Federalists actually argued that religious diversity would help prevent the establishment of a dominant faction or political community, not hinder it.
- e. The Anti-Federalists wanted more direct democratic elements, not a non-elected judiciary or indirect presidential election.