Answer:
The Federalists believed that the Constitution, as drafted, adequately protected individual rights and liberties through its system of checks and balances and the division of powers between the federal government and the states. They argued that explicitly listing rights in a bill of rights might be interpreted as limiting rights to only those explicitly mentioned, potentially leaving others unprotected. Conversely, the Anti-Federalists, distrustful of centralized power, insisted on a bill of rights as a safeguard against potential government overreach. They feared that without specific protections outlined, individual liberties could be easily infringed upon by a powerful central government. Thus, while the Federalists saw the Constitution as inherently protective of rights, the Anti-Federalists demanded explicit guarantees to ensure the preservation of individual freedoms.
Answer:
The Federalists believed that the Constitution, as drafted, adequately protected individual rights and liberties through its system of checks and balances and the division of powers between the federal government and the states. They argued that explicitly listing rights in a bill of rights might be interpreted as limiting rights to only those explicitly mentioned, potentially leaving others unprotected. Conversely, the Anti-Federalists, distrustful of centralized power, insisted on a bill of rights as a safeguard against potential government overreach. They feared that without specific protections outlined, individual liberties could be easily infringed upon by a powerful central government. Thus, while the Federalists saw the Constitution as inherently protective of rights, the Anti-Federalists demanded explicit guarantees to ensure the preservation of individual freedoms.
