Following the Revolution, American political discussion was dominated by a debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists; although the names of the parties changed over time, their central arguments regarding the power of the federal government remained. Write an essay that traces this debate from the Founding to the years of the early republic. Your thesis statement (argument) must address the following central question: What were the main arguments between supporters and opponents of centralized government, and which side “won” the debate by the early 1800s? You must use the following key terms: (1) Articles of Confederation; (2) Federalists / Anti-Federalists / Constitution / Bill of Rights; (3) Bank of the United States / Whiskey Rebellion; and (4) Democratic-Republicans / Louisiana Purchase.
