The Americans who objected to the creation of stronger US federal government and opposed the ratification of the US constitution of 1787 were known as anti-federalists.
The anti-federalists believed that the constitution granted too much power to the federal government and hence it could easily encroach upon the powers of states and the rights of the people. Patrick Henry was the man who led the Anti-federalists, other leaders were James Winthrop and George Mason. Their major contribution was that they got the Bill of Rights added to the constitution.
