Anti-Federalists

From Conservapedia

The Anti-Federalists were opponents of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in the late 1780s. Anti-Federalists included prominent Founders or Patriots such as George Mason, Patrick Henry and future President James Monroe.

The Anti-Federalists argued that the Constitution would create a new federal government that was too powerful. In response to those who supported the Constitution by claiming that it limited federal power, the Anti-Federalists cited two gaping holes in the limitation on federal power: the Necessary and Proper Clause and the Supreme Court. Congress could interfere with the rights of states and the people using the former, and the Supreme Court could construe federal power very broadly. History proved the Anti-Federalists right in some respects.

The actions of the Anti-Federalists were instrumental in shaping the Constitution as we know it today. Concerned that the Constitution contained no guarantee of individual liberties, the Anti-Federalists pressed for the document to be amended. Their insistence led to the creation of the Bill of Rights. ^[1]

Just as supporters of ratification of the U.S. Constitution wrote under pseudonyms, Anti-Federalists did also. Names used included Brutus and Federal Farmer.