The debates between Federalists and Antifederalists were primarily about which one of the following issues?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks about the central issue in the debates between Federalists and Antifederalists, so the first step is to identify the core concern they argued over.
Option A: 'The right of the people to rebel'—This was not a defining debate between Federalists and Antifederalists. Both sides generally accepted the legality of government and law; the dispute was not about a right to rebel but about organizing authority within the new system.
Option B: 'the representation of large and small states'—While questions of representation did arise in the broader constitutional process, the primary Federalist–Antifederalist dispute focused on who held power and how expansive the national government would be, rather than a pure structural question about representation; this choice captures a related theme but not the central issue they argued over overall.
Option C: 'The need to establish a standard currency'—A national currency was a practical concern tied to a strong central government, but it was not the pivotal disagreement between the two factions. The broader debate was more about sovereignty and powers than about monetary policy alone.
Option D: 'The existence of slavery'—Slavery was a significant and contentious topic in early American politics, but it was not the defining axis of the Federalists vs. Antifederalists. The fiercest debates were about the scope and legitimacy of the central government, with slavery surfacing later as a constitutional compromise issue.
Option E: 'The scope of power of the central government'—This is the core issue that divided Federalists (favoring a stronger national government with more central power) and Antifederalists (favoring states’ rights and limits on central authority). Their disagreement centered on how powerful the federal government should be, what powers it should possess, and how those powers would be justified and constrained.
In summary, while several topics were debated or touched upon in the broader constitutional process, the most fundamental and defining clash between the two groups was over how much power the central government should wield and how that power should be checked. The other options describe important concerns or topics of discussion, but they do not capture the central axis of the Federalist–Antifederalist dispute as clearly as option E.

AP GOV Test - Constitution/Federalism

The debates between Federalists and Antifederalists were primarily about which one of the following issues?

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