Summary: In this lesson, students will explore and compare the positions of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists in the founding era. Students will clarify those positions through a card sort activity provided by the New Jersey Center for Civic Education. In addition, students will explain the need for and value of compromise, conduct a debate, and analyze the relevance of Anti-Federalist concerns today.
Overarching Questions:
- CIVICS: How well does the government balance individual rights and the common good, including the need to maintain order, safety and a healthy environment, during this time period?
- CIVICS: Have individuals and groups influenced public policy during this time period? If so, how and what has been the impact?
NJ. Student Learning Standards for Social Studies:
- 6.1.12.CivicsPI.2.b: Examine the emergence of early political parties and their views on centralized government and foreign affairs and compare these positions with those of today’s political parties.
- 6.1.12.CivicsPD.2.a: Compare and contrast the arguments of Federalists and Anti-Federalists during the ratification debates and assess their continuing relevance.
Link to Lesson: Federalists and Anti-Federalists: Federalism Today