The period from 1783 to 1788 was a critical time for the United States, during which the American people debated and ultimately accepted the Constitution. Because of its size, wealth, and influence and because it was the first state to call a ratifying convention, Federalist-dominated Pennsylvania was the center of national attention. The positions of the Federalists, those who encouraged the Constitution, and the anti-Federalists, those who resisted it, were stated in newspapers all over the country.
Federalists, who most of them gained their livelihoods as merchants, shopkeepers, professionals, artisans, and commercial farmers, desired a government that would foster the growth of a market economy and facilitate trade with other countries. They also believed that society benefited when people pursued individual goals. Federalist James Madison claimed that the Constitution would be beneficial because a large republic contained more safeguards than a small one, but Anti-Federalists......
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Approximate Word Count: 628
Approximate Pages: 3 (260 words per double-spaced page) |