antifederalist
States' rights advocate
An antifederalist is someone who opposes a federal system of government, particularly one that concentrates power in a central authority at the expense of state or local autonomy.
In American history, the Antifederalists were opponents of the U.S.
Constitution during the ratification debates of 1787–1788, arguing it granted too much power to the national government and lacked a bill of rights.
The term now applies more broadly to anyone skeptical of federal authority.
Formal approval by authority
- Constitutional ConventionDocument-drafting assembly of founders
- Bill of RightsInitial constitutional amendments guaranteeing freedoms
- Alexander HamiltonFounding father, financial architect
- PhiladelphiaPennsylvania's largest metropolis
Patrick Henry · George Mason · James Madison · John Jay · framers · ratify · amendments · republicanism
Distributing power from center
- states' rightsProvincial governmental autonomy
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- localismPreference for nearby things
- limited governmentOfficially bounded political authority
tyranny · civil liberties · individual rights · agrarianism · self-government · autonomy · nullification · subsidiarity
Opponent of orthodoxy
- opponentOne who contends against
- criticOne who judges merit
- skepticOne who doubts claims
- delegateEntrust authority to another
patriot · populist · contrarian · objector · decentralist · constitutionalist · libertarian · statesman
ratification
Formal approval by authority
- Constitutional ConventionDocument-drafting assembly of founders
- Bill of RightsInitial constitutional amendments guaranteeing freedoms
- Alexander HamiltonFounding father, financial architect
Patrick Henry · George Mason · James Madison · John Jay · Philadelphia · framers · ratify · amendments · republicanism · central government
decentralization
Distributing power from center
- states' rightsProvincial governmental autonomy
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- localismPreference for nearby things
limited government · tyranny · civil liberties · individual rights · agrarianism · self-government · autonomy · nullification · subsidiarity · devolution
dissenter
Opponent of orthodoxy
delegate · patriot · populist · contrarian · objector · decentralist · constitutionalist · libertarian · statesman · pamphleteer
antifederalistFederalist
Constitutional ratification supporter
Alexander Hamilton · Hamilton · nationalist · James Madison · John Jay
federal, federalism, federation, confederation, federally, federalist, federalists, federalize