How would you respond to this discussion thread in-depth? Like many political parties, the Anti-Federalists and the Federalists had many issues. To list a few issues, the Anti-Federalists op

How would you respond to this discussion thread in-depth?
Like many political parties, the Anti-Federalists and the Federalists had many issues. To list a few issues, the Anti-Federalists opposed creating a strong national government whereas the Federalists advocated for a strong government with hopes of adopting the Constitution. “The Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution on a number of grounds, but their chief objection was that it gave too much power to the Federal Government and encouraged consolidation” (McClellan, 2000). Additionally, the Anti-Federalists voiced their concern on the issue of local control of civil liberties on the insistence that the Federal government would be so powerful that the rights would be taken away. With the Federalists supporting the constitution, the Anti-Federalists pushed for the Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution as if it was a compromise between the two parties. Additionally, James Madison’s Paper #10 played a significant part in this as well. Although the principles Madison spoke on did not specifically align with what the Anti-Federalists thought was important, it helped shape the Constitution. Madison’s Paper #10 explained the significance of having a strong government would protect the liberties the people and states desperately wanted. The 9th and 10th Amendments also played a very important role during disputes. Every instance and issue could not be physically addressed in the Constitution or Bill of Rights, but the importance of knowing where the power lies if not addressed eventually will determine the outcome of a situation. “The amendment limits the federal government’s power to just what is written in the Constitution. Those powers not listed are left to each of the states” (Annenberg Classroom, 2019).
After gaining a better understanding of each group, I feel as if the Anti-Federalist’s Amendments were more consistent with what the American political thought. I believe this because the Anti-Federalists advocated for a less controlling government that would leave the power in the state’s and people’s hands. They also advocated for the ratification of the Bill of Rights which would protect many of the important freedoms we are holding onto today. Such freedoms include the right to bear arms and the right to freedom of religion. An example of Anti-Federalists pertains to same-sex marriage. While the legalization of same-sex marriage took place in 2015, there has been a fight to allow people to be protected in the event they don’t agree with it. For instance, in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission the Plaintiff declined to bake a cake for a gay couple because it violated his religious beliefs. While the Defendant’s filed that the Plaintiff violated their First Amendment right, the Court of Appeals found that the Plaintiff’s actions were not inappropriate and if the Court forced him to “bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple would violate his First Amendment rights” (Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. V. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 2018). Without the First Amendment, The Plaintiff would not have been protected from the lawsuit filed against him. An example of Federalists in today’s current events is abortion. While the Federal government has begun to let control go and pass control of this matter onto the states, it has allowed the federal government to the responsibility of deciding the law of the matter to the states. While people don’t necessarily agree as there was a Supreme Court ruling on this previously, the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade has allowed the states to take control.
“Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission.” Oyez, www.oyez.org/cases/2017/16-111. Accessed 23 Feb. 2023
Links to an external site..
McClellan, J. (1989). Liberty, Order, and Justice. Liberty Fund.
Ninth & tenth amendments (1791). Annenberg Classroom. (2019, January 15). Retrieved February 23, 2023, from https://www.annenbergclassroom.org/resource/our-constitution/constitution-amendments-9-10/#:~:text=The%20amendment%20limits%20the%20federal,to%20each%20of%20the%20states.