Introduction

Enduring Knowledge: The Federalists and Antifederalists engaged in passionate debates over ratification of the Constitution.

Analyze the image. What is going on in the cartoon? Who are the people and why do you think they are fighting? Though we do not see actual physical fights in Congress today, there are constant debates between the two major political parties. Many of the fights today are in some way related to the size and/or power of the federal government. Some things never change. The question of how powerful the federal government should be was one of the first huge debates surrounding the Constitution.

Click the marker in the image to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the political cartoon.

Open the Political Cartoon in a new window | Political Cartoon text version

This 1909 illustration by L.M. Glackens is titled "The Minority".

Lesson Objectives

Following successful completion of this lesson, students will be able to:

  • compare the positions of the Federalist and the Antifederalists.
  • identify the personalities, issues, and ideologies that were a part of the ratification of the Constitution.
  • explain the major points of the Federalist Papers.

The above objectives correspond with the Alabama Course of Study: Government objective(s): 3.1.

This lesson incorporates the following Literacy Standards: R1, R2, R4, R6, R7, W2, W3, W4, and W9.

 

    Next Page