Government

Federalists views

Supported the constitution and preferred a strong national government.=

Antifederalists views

Opposed the constitution and preferred a more decentralized federal system

Federalists

Property owners, creditors, merchants. Included Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, George Washington

Antifederalists

Small farmers, frontiersmen, debtors, shopkeepers, some state government officials. Included Patrick Henry, George Mason, Elbridge Gerry, George Clinton

Federalist Papers

A series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay supporting ratification of the Constitution

Virginia Plan

called for representation in the national legislature based on the population of each state

New Jersey Plan

called for equal representation for all states

Great Compromise/Connecticut Compromise

Gave each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population but linked representation in the House of Representatives to population. Bicameral legislature