The Federalists and Anti-Federalists were two US political factions formed right after the American War of Independence. Established in 1787 and led by Alexander Hamilton, the Federalist Party members wanted a strong federal government and that the thirteen states adopted a United States Constitution that would keep them united as one nation.
The Anti-Federalists were against the adoption of a Federal Constitution. Although the Federalists imposed their political ideas during the 1787 Constitutional Convention that shaped and approved the Federal Constitution, the Anti-Federalists political influence led to the first ten amendments to that Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, which established the individual rights and limited the power of the Federal and States government over the individuals. The Bill of Rights was passed in 1791. Among the Anti-Federalists supporters were George Mason, Thomas Paine, George Clinton, and Samuel Adams.
