[gavriloprincip]

Baloney the anti-federalists were generally corrupt state officials seeking to preserve their power at the cost of the Union. Had they had their way the Union would have been still-born and destroyed in its cradle. Their insipid writings are of little value other than examples of the idiocy which the true patriots, the Federalists, had to face. Their victory in overcoming this crew of meatheads was one of mankinds' greatest achievements.

I dunno, it was my understanding that the Federalists at the time were regarded as the radical hippies of the era. It is pretty crazy to look back and see what a huge risk they were taking. I am glad that they took those risks because it worked out so well. But to be honest if i was living at the time i probably wouldn't have supported them.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Federalists were generally those who had actually fought for
Independence. Their core was the officers who surrounded Washington and formed the Society of the Cincinnatti. It was precisely their experience with the miserable efforts of the states in providing for the Army which determined them to form a stronger government.

The only choice was to watch the Union dissolve or form a new government to perfect it. There was no real government for the nation when the constitution was being written and ratified. Chaotic political activity and economic collapse were the background it was written against.

Protection of private property and minority rights were the principle aims of the writers. Hardly radical "hippies." In fact, many historians consider the constitution part of the counter-Revolution. Federalists were certainly to the right of their opponents who regularly pushed the states to declare debts expunged and threatened property in a number of ways.