Question

Which statement most accurately evaluates the positions held by the federalists and anti-federalists concerning ratification of the U.S. Constitution?

1) The federalists supported the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, while the anti-federalists opposed it.
2) The federalists and anti-federalists both supported the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
3) The federalists and anti-federalists both opposed the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
4) The federalists were undecided about the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, while the anti-federalists opposed it.

Answer 1

The Federalists supported the ratification of the U.S. Constitution because they wanted a stronger national government, whereas the Anti-Federalists opposed it, fearing centralized power and the lack of a bill of rights.

Step-by-step explanation:

The debate over the ratification of the U.S. Constitution was primarily between two groups: the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. The Federalists, including figures like James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, supported the ratification because they believed in the need for a stronger national government, as they argued in the The Federalist Papers. On the other hand, the Anti-Federalists opposed ratification, fearing that it would lead to a government with too much power, reminiscent of British tyranny, and they were concerned about the lack of a bill of rights to protect individual liberties.

The correct answer to the question is therefore: 1) The federalists supported the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, while the anti-federalists opposed it, due to their belief that the Constitution gave the national government too much power and lacked sufficient protection for individual rights.