The Federalists view of the Constitution was one that questioned the compromises required in ratification of the Constitution as compared to the provisions of the 'Articles of Confederation'. However, there was more faith in and respect among Antifederalists for legislative power and it was their belief that "bicameralism and the separation of powers" was the appropriate means for checking the system. The Federalists viewed these checks and balance devices as merely checks on the power of the legislature and a tool in driving the power of the executive and judicial branches of government. Concerns of the Antifederalists included concerns over taxation of citizens and the possible enslavement of citizens to the government in its power to tax and as well they questioned how limited a congress actually was that had the power to pass all laws with only the requirement that the laws be "necessary and proper." (Semonche, 2003; p.3) the Antifederalists were further concerned because they contended that there was a departure of the Constitution in the conference of powers on government rather than what they viewed should be a limiting of those government powers. The Constitutional debate in Philadelphia lasted under the period of a year and the Antifederalists concluded that the document was legitimate...

The Ant federalist legacy lives still and the debate of 1787 which took place in Philadelphia lives on in today's political landscape in the United States.
SUMMARY & CONCLUSION

Those who hold that the government of today is too large and its powers overbroad still lean to the writings and arguments of the Antifederalists and this debate still goes forth in today's politics both at the federal and state levels. The scope of today's federal national government has grown to a broader scope than even imagined by the Antifederalists and even today, the Antifederalist sentiment can be heard throughout the political arena in the United States.

Bibliography

Semonche, John E. (2003) the Debate Over the Constitution: Federalists vs. Antifederalists. Yale University 2003 Online available at: www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1982/3/82.03.03.x.html

Hannah, R. (nd) Federalists vs. Antifederalists: The Nature of Government & the Constitution. Online available at: cmweb.pvschools.net/~pburr/docs/amhis/12th%20Grade%20-%20Government.pdf

Siemers, David J. (2002) Ratifying the Republic: Antifederalists and Federalists in Constitutional Time. Stanford University Press. 2002.