Will Keel

Debate 10/8/10

Federalism:

The Correct World View for the Eighteenth Century

Federalist views and opinions have impacted modern society, foreign policy, and

culture more positively than Anti-Federalists in that they promoted policies which

encouraged modern American government, they realized the dangers of a “mobocracy,”

they promoted strong ties with France, and they enforced the separation of Church and

State doctrine, an fundamental pillar of our current government.

The Federalists wanted a strong national government to suppress the frisky,

warring states. The national government would reign supreme, and would be able to

have the final say in matters of law. Considering the fact that the same practice is

instituted by the government today, the influence the Federalists had remains

astounding. Another prevailing idea of the Federalists stemmed from the idea that the

Articles of Confederation were weak and ineffective. Should the Articles still exist today,

the national government would have no power to tax, little control on national affairs,

and the country would probably have broken apart long ago. States would have divided,

small countries would have formed, and the United States would not be the powerful

country it is today. The Federalists were able to see that the Constitution could allow for

state individuality and simultaneously promote and establish an efficient national

coalition.

A main fear of the Federalists lay in the possibility of a “Mobocracy.” Should the

people revolt, under the Articles, the national government had no corralling power to
 Will Keel
Debate 10/8/10

force them into submission. Again, the nation would fall apart into cacophony. Under the

Constitution, which the Federalists supported wholeheartedly, the National Government

could raise an army and quell any discord when necessary. Taxation was no longer a

problem, either. Overall, the Constitution, supported by the Federalists, provided a much

better alternative than the Anti-Federalist plan, the Articles of Confederation.

Jefferson, as the leader of the Federalist party, promoted strong ties socially and

economically with the French. Not only had the French supported us in trade, but also

were the long-time enemies of the country we had just broken from. A nation should not

break ties with its strongest ally, the strongest country in the world, France.

One of the biggest sources of conflict between Federalists and Anti-Federalists

proved to be the doctrine of Separation of Church and State. Without this doctrine, the

United States would not be the all-welcoming country it is today. Religious bigotry would

have prospered and flourished, and the country would have become a Protestant nation,

instead of a free one.

Overall, the Federalists laid out many of the fundamental foundations today’s

society is based upon. Many of the policies Federalists put forward are what the country

is built upon today, including a strong national government, separation of church and

state, the promotion of a strong republic, represented by individuals with experience and

knowhow, and the ability to pass amendments by 3/4 vote, making it much easier to

change the Constitution. Federalists were much more positively influential than Anti-

Federalists ever were.