ANTI-FEDERALISTS
\ˈantifˈɛdəɹəlˌɪsts], \ˈantifˈɛdəɹəlˌɪsts], \ˈa_n_t_i_f_ˈɛ_d_ə_ɹ_ə_l_ˌɪ_s_t_s]\
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A political party which first came into existence in opposing the ratification of the Constitution. Its leaders were George Clinton, Patrick Henry and others. Failing in this they were for a time utterly demoralized. During the First Congress this party showed itself but little, but in the first session of the Second Congress there were symptoms of an Anti-Federalist revival. They opposed Hamilton and his followers and gradually became champions of the strict construction of the Constitution and opponents to what they termed "monarchical" Federalism. After the rise of the "Republican" party under Jefferson the Anti-Federalists lost their identity in the advocacy of its principles (1793).
By John Franklin Jameson
