Final answer:
Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution for fear it would create a strong national government favoring the wealthy elite and lack protections for individual rights. They sought a weak national government and strong state governments, and were especially supportive of a bill of rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
One reason Anti-Federalists opposed the approval of the Constitution is they were afraid of a strong national government that was controlled by the wealthy. Anti-Federalists feared the consolidation of power in a central government, which they believed would infringe upon the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens. They were also concerned that the Constitution, in lacking a specific bill of rights, failed to ensure the protection of individual liberties. Urban Americans, both rich and poor, generally supported the Constitution because of the expected boost to commerce and business, while rural Americans, regardless of wealth, tended to oppose it, fearing that it would favor the interests of the elite over those of small, landowning farmers and undermining local state authority.
The opposition led by Anti-Federalists stemmed from a suspicion of centralized authority, a sentiment rooted in the experience with the British Parliament before the American Revolution. This aversion extended to domestic policies, which they believed would enrich the few at the expense of the many. This sentiment is illustrated by the various objections to the Constitution and subsequent initiatives, such as the national bank, which Madison and Jefferson opposed on the grounds of strict constructionism when interpreting the Constitution.