Before the Constitution was even written, two parties emerged vying for a direction for America. Name them and their characteris
tics. A. The Federalists wanted a strong Federal government, and the Republicans wanted freer elections
B. The Anti-Federalist were against a strong government, and the Whigs wanted States to have more power
C. The Whigs wanted a standing militia, and the Federalists wanted a Federal Reserve.
D. The Federalists wanted a strong centralized government, and the Anti-Federalist wanted to restrict the Federal government and give states more freedoms and legal control.
The correct answer is D) The Federalists wanted a strong centralized government, and the Anti-Federalists wanted to restrict the Federal government and give states more freedoms and legal control.
These two different groups emerged because of America's past experiences. For example, the Anti-Federalists feared a strong federal government because of their experiences as American colonists. American colonists were taxed without representation by the British central government. This was one of the main causes of the American Revolution.
The Federalists, however, based their experiences on the lack of success under the Articles of Confederation. The weak central government established under the Articles of Confederation made governing ineffective in America, as the federal government could not collect taxes or force states to follow federal laws.
Beginning with George Washington's presidency, the United States sought a policy of isolationism and neutrality with regards to the internal affairs of other nations.
