What does it mean to being an anti federalist?

Answer 1

Being an Anti-Federalist means opposing the ratification of the U.S. Constitution as proposed in 1787, primarily because it granted significant power to the federal government at the expense of states' rights. Anti-Federalists were concerned about the lack of a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties and feared that a strong central government could lead to tyranny. They advocated for a more decentralized government structure that preserved the autonomy of states and the rights of citizens. Prominent Anti-Federalists included figures like Patrick Henry and George Mason.