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 that divided Federalists and Antifederalists.
Option 1: 'the representation of large and small states' — This touches on disputes over legislative structure (like the Virginia vs. New Jersey plans) which helped shape the Constitution, but the fundamental Federalist–Antifederalist clash concerned more than just representation in a single chamber.
Option 2: 'The need to establish a standard currency' — Monetary policy and a national currency were concerns in early debates, yet they were not the primary axis of the Federalist–Antifederalist conflict; they were among broader economic concerns but not the core constitutional issue.
Option 3: 'The scope of power of the central government' — This is the central issue: Federalists advocated for a stronger central government to unify the states and address national problems, while Antifederalists feared central overreach and preferred stronger states’ rights and protections, foreshadowing the later push for the Bill of Rights. The debate centers on how powerful the national government should be.
Option 4: 'The right of the people to rebel' — The right to rebellion is not a primary constitutional debate between these groups; their disagreement focused on structure and powers of the national government rather than revolutionary rights.
Option 5: 'The existence of slavery' — Slavery was a contentious and significant issue in the era, but it was not the primary axis of the Federalist–Antifederalist debate; it was one of several issues surrounding the Constitution, not the central constitutional power question.
In summary, the crux of the disagreement lay in how broad or limited federal authority should be, with Federalists pushing for a stronger national government and Antifederalists advocating for more state sovereignty and safeguards against central tyranny.

AP GOV Test - Midterm

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

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