Final answer:
Prominent leaders opposing a stronger central government were Antifederalists like George Mason and Patrick Henry, who feared the dangers of centralized power.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the debates surrounding the creation of a stronger central government in the United States, prominent leaders opposing the push for a stronger federal system were categorized as Antifederalists. Among these leaders, George Mason and Patrick Henry stood out as vocal opponents. They, along with others like Richard Henry Lee, warned of the potential dangers of vesting significant power in a centralized federal government, especially within a single executive which could lead to tyranny. While Thomas Jefferson did not directly participate in the Constitutional Convention, where the bulk of the debates occurred, during the early political careers of American founders, Thomas Jefferson, although not the most radical, did later emerge as an opposition leader against a strong central government.