Antifederalist
1
9.9
- noun
- /ˌæntiˈfɛdərəlɪst/
- US
:
antifederalista
- During the debates, the Antifederalists emphasized the importance of state rights over federal authority.
Examples
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The debate over the European Union today resembles the debate of 1787-89 between the Federalists and Antifederalists, the latter of which feared that the Constitution would end in a consolidated nationalism, and the former who assured them that such could never happen.
Blog text (17) -
If there is any one coherent view characteristic of the Antifederalists, it is this.
Academic text (1998) -
But even the House was not representative enough for some Antifederalists.
Academic text (1997) -
In particular, some Antifederalists maintained that no body could be representative unless it was numerous and close to the people.
Academic text (1997) -
The Antifederalists cited Montesquieu as an authority for this position.
Academic text (1998) -
Many Antifederalists were convinced that a popular and locally elected legislature was the only legitimate representative institution in a free government.
Academic text (1997) -
Here the Antifederalists seem especially close to Montesquieu, who made virtue the principle of a republican constitution.
Academic text (1998) -
Thus, including an armed citizenry in the federal formula was consistent with the Antifederalists' concerns about the centralizing tendencies of the national government.
Academic text (1993) -
Many Antifederalists argued that a strong central government would threaten individual liberties.
-
The Antifederalists expressed their fears about the concentration of power in the new Constitution.
Synonyms
A person who wants power moved from a central government to local governments
Not supporting strong government control
Antonyms
2
7.6
A person who supports a system where power is shared between national and local governments
Surface Forms
Morphology
Antifederalist = federalist (transparent) = anti + federal + ist
The noun is transparently built by adding 'anti-' to 'federalist' to mean a person opposed to federalism or a strong central government.
Etymology
Antifederalist comes from anti- 'against' and federal 'joined together'. In late 18th-century America an Antifederalist was a person who opposed a strong central government because they wanted more power for local governments.