Anti-Federalism refers to a diverse group of Americans who opposed the ratification of the 1787 United States Constitution.[1] Anti-Federalists believed a strong central government could become corrupt and tyrannical, as they believed England had become. They wanted a weak central government just as they had with the Articles of Confederation.[2] One of the many points that the Anti-Federalists disagreed with the Federalists was that the Constitution did not have a Bill of Rights.[3] Federalists argued the Constitution did not need a Bill of Rights, but agreed finally to add several amendments to the Constitution.[3] The House of Representatives approved 17 amendments. The Senate passed on 12 of these for ratification by the states.[3] Of the 12, 10 were ratified by the 13 states, becoming known as the United States Bill of Rights.[3] Virginia was the last to ratify the amendments on December 15, 1791.[3]
Under the new government, many Anti-Federalists created the Democratic-Republican Party.
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