The Anti-Federalists

Anti-Federalist were opponents of the Constitution who saw it as a limitation to both state and human rights. “Anti-Federalists repeatedly predicted that the new government would fall under the sway of merchants, creditors, and others hostile to the interests of ordinary Americans” (Foner 272). But they lacked the leadership of the Constitution’s defender. Fearful that their influence would have diminished, there were some state politicians that were involved with the Anti-Federalists which were the “revolutionary heroes as Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Patrick Henry” (Foner 272). Liberty was the Anti-Federalist’s watchword and they felt that it was being threatened by the Constitution. The Anti-Federalists pointed out that the Constitution