Final answer:
The Federalists supported the ratification of a strong central government under the new Constitution, while the Anti-Federalists advocated for states' rights and feared centralized power. The debate was influenced by social class, with urban dwellers generally favoring ratification and rural populations opposing. Ultimately, the Constitution was ratified, with the creation of the Bill of Rights addressing some Anti-Federalist concerns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The debate surrounding the ratification of the United States Constitution in the late 18th century was marked by a division between two groups: the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. The Federalists, who supported a strong central government, believed in the importance of a centralized republic to ensure national defense and economic growth. They were often characterized as wealthy, well-educated landowners, businessmen, and former military commanders. On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists feared that such concentration of power would lead to tyranny and advocated for the rights of states and the inclusion of a Bill of Rights to protect individual freedoms. Urban Americans, both rich and poor, favored ratification because they anticipated that the Constitution would promote commerce and business, while rural Americans, regardless of their economic status, tended to oppose it. The concerns of the Anti-Federalists eventually led to the formation of democratic societies advocating for limited government, as well as the eventual inclusion of the Bill of Rights.
Despite these tensions, the United States Constitution was ultimately ratified and the new government went into effect, with George Washington inaugurated as the first president. The Federalists initially did not form a political party but shared beliefs in maintaining hierarchical social structures and property rights linked to political participation. Meanwhile, the push for a stronger federal government was driven by a group of nationalists concerned about the financial health and stability of the nation under the weak Articles of Confederation.