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Anti-federalists

Definition

Anti-Federalists were those opposed to ratifying (approving) the new U.S. Constitution in 1787-88 because they feared it gave too much power to a central government at the expense of states' rights.

Analogy

Using the school analogy again, the Anti-Federalists would be those students who oppose creating a powerful student council because they worry it will take away power from individual classes and might become too controlling.

Related terms

Bill of Rights: The Anti-Federalists were instrumental in getting this added to the U.S. Constitution to protect individual liberties against potential government overreach.

Patrick Henry: A leading Anti-Federalist who famously declared "Give me liberty or give me death!"

Articles of Confederation: The document favored by many Anti-Federalists that served as America's first constitution; it gave more power to states than did our current Constitution.