Federalist

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extent of territory comprehended within the limits of the United States, together with the variety of its climates, productions, and commerce, the difference of extent, and number of inhabitants in all; the dissimilitude of interest, morals, and politics, in almost every one, will receive it as an intuitive truth, that a consolidated republican form of government therein, can never form a perfect union” (Cato) According to the quote one unified and centralized government has no way of addressing the country as a whole because the United States varied too greatly. Individual states would be able to provide better care for their citizens because there would be a greater amount of relation between government and citizen. This is because a more local government can empathize with the people better.

Cato also offers an explanation as to why large republics have failed in the past. He states that “In large republics, the public good is sacrificed to a thousand views, in a small one, the interest of the public is easily perceived, better understood, and more within the reach of every citizen; abuses have a less extent, and of course are less protected. He also shows you, that the duration of the republic of Sparta was owing to its having continued with the same extent of territory after all its wars; and that the ambition of Athens and Lacedemon to command and direct the union, lost them their liberties, and gave them a monarchy”. According to this quote Greece failed because the government was extending its territory too far and its united government could not meet the needs of all the people and protect the people’s liberties.

The anti-federalist where also concerned about the government having too much power. Brutus expresses this in his writing. He states that the new government has too much power between all the branches. He also states that the present construction is non deniable and congress has rights.

The federalist wanted a strong united government while the anti-federalist wanted a strong state government. Congress reviewed the constitution and made a compromise between the two groups.