State Sovereignty:
Federalists: Federalism goes beyond states' rights and powers. Its essence is dual sovereignty — the Framers' ingenious system of shared authority between federal and state governments with each sovereign checking the other. The purpose of that check is to shield individuals from concentrations of power.
Anti-Federalists: The Anti-Federalists believed that each state should have a sovereign, independent government. Their leaders included some of the most influential figures in the nation, including Patrick Henry and George Mason, leading national figures during the Revolutionary War period.
Presidential Power:
Frederalists: Federalists contrasted the American Presidency with the British Monarchy. They argued that the former had limited power, checked by the two other branches whereas the latter had almost unlimited power. Federalists maintained that the President would be accountable to both the people and Congress.
Anti-federalists: During the ratification debates, Antifederalists charged that the President would become an elected monarch, that cabals would develop to ensure his reelection, and that the presidential veto power would be abused. ... Federalists maintained that the President would be accountable to both the people and Congress.
Political corruption:
The Federalist Party was the first political party in the United States. Under Alexander Hamilton ... It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party.
Antifederalists the proposed Constitution threatened to lead the United States down an all-too-familiar road of political corruption.
Taxation:
Federalists: Federal revenue was a key concern for the authors of the federalist Papers, looming large in their critique of the Articles and their defense of the Constitution. ... They insisted, however, that the federal government be granted unlimited taxing powers, including the authority to assess domestic excise taxes.
Anti-Federalists: Anti-Federalists opposed the power, fearing it could allow the central government to rule the people and the states by imposing unfair and repressive taxes, rather than through representative government.
