Federalist v. Anti-Federalist

The U.S Constitution gives the federal government enough power to overpower the states

It will not be possible for the federal government to overpower the states, because the states are a necessary part of the federal government

The Constitutional Convention created a U.S. Constitution that contains no Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties like freedom of speech, trial by jury, and the right against searches and seizures

The U.S. Constitution gives the federal government just a few powers that are very well defined

The chief executive (President) created by the U.S. Constitution is really just a king

The U.S. Constitution already contains a few rights, so we may as well add a whole Bill of Rights

The U.S. Constitution forbids creating titles of nobility like Duke or King, so the government will always belong to the people

The United States is too large to have a central government

People won’t know their leaders and will lose control over the government

The U.S. Constitution is a Bill of Rights because it guarantees citizens a role in government

If the Bill of Rights was REMOVED from the U.S. Constitution, would you feel secure that the “We the People” preamble protects your rights?

The Preamble

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Summary of the Bill of Rights

First Amendment: Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition

Second Amendment: Right to keep and bear arms in order to maintain a well regulated militia

Third Amendment: No quartering of soldiers

Fourth Amendment: Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures

Fifth Amendment: Right to due process of law, freedom from self-incrimination, double jeopardy

Sixth Amendment: Rights of accused persons (right to a speedy and public trial)

Seventh Amendment: Right of trial by jury in civil cases

Eighth Amendment: Freedom from excessive bail, cruel and unusual punishments

Ninth Amendment: Other rights of the people

Tenth Amendment: Powers reserved to the states