Arguments Against Anti-Federalism

In Founding a Nation 1783-1791, the authors claim to mostly agree on inhabitants seeking to acquire “actual settlements” rather than “vacant lands” (VOF, pg. 123). Vacant lands meant property over lands not taken for granted. Landlord companies monopolized the dispersal of lands from the West. Private organizations took custody of distributing land among new incoming colonizers by lobbying the government. Some colonists immigrate across to Ohio over the Appalachian Mountains due to poverty and the War of Independence. Ohio inhabitants relied under government protection and obeyed the laws form by the legislative branch. In 1785, a group of Ohio residents were invaded by governmental officials. Orders from the government, the men in charged
Anti-federalists believed in the new constitution obtaining such power can lead to infringement of civil rights by wealthy Americans. For instance, wealthy Americans lobbying the government for certain laws to pass against the middle and lower class. Even though Henry failed to convince the government to reject the new constitution, Henry opened the eyes of Federalists. According to Patrick Henry, “They not foresee latent consequences: I dread the operation of it on the middling and lower class of people: It is for them I fear the adoption of this system” (VOF, pg. 129). Indeed, in the nineteenth century middle and lower class outnumbered the wealthy class of people. It was rare for anyone to attend college during that era. The predicament of lower class would encounter more uncivilized laws of not being capable to understand the enactments. Henry feared of war occurring between the Americans because not everyone would agree among the same common good
Henry acknowledged of no need for a strong government that removed away the general government’s power. Patrick Henry demonstrated for a strong centralized government, it required “liberty is it direct end and foundation” like how Great Britain established “liberty as the foundation of everything” (VOF, pg. 128). Henry stated, “the American spirit, assisted by the ropes and chains of consolidate” (VOF, pg. 128) on which the government can thrive into a dangerous and powerful “monarchy.” Consequently, the government ought to the rights to legislate, change private contracts, and obtain arms to defend itself. Henry beliefs of a consolidated government would cause chaos between state government and Americans. Americans would disagree of a strict republican government and federalists taxing on poor people. State governments would soon dominate over the general