A Research On The Anti-Federalists Of New York State In Early American History

The anti-federalists were an important political faction in the process of the early national construction of the United States.Their political thoughts had a profound influence on the constitutional principles and political development of the United States.The New York anti-federalists were the most influential representatives of the anti-federalists in the United States.This article attempts to analyze the political activities of the anti-federalists of New York State as political opponents during the Confederate period,their positions and attitudes as constitutional opponents at the the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia,the formal formation of New York State anti-federal political forces during the public debate following the publication of the Constitution,as well as their political speeches and propositions during the period of constitutional ratification,to study the political ideas of the anti-Federalists of New York State and discuss the important role they played in the process of nation construction in the United States.Even before the constitutional convention in Philadelphia,New York was trying to resolve its relationship with the confederacy.New York's political elites were sharply divided on some important issues.People led by New York governor George Clinton advocated relying on the powerful state government to achieve the prosperity of New York.The nationalists led by Alexander Hamilton advocated to solve the defects of the confederate system by strengthening the power of the confederate congress.The differences in political ideas between the two sides were not only reflected in the political activities in New York during the period of confederacy,but also profoundly influenced the political debates during the period of constitutional convention and the period of constitutional ratification.At the constitutional convention in Philadelphia,the state of New York was represented Robert Yates and John Lansing.They defended the rights of the states and opposed the establishment of a political system aimed at annexing the states and undermining the power and independence of the state governments.They questioned the legitimacy of the constitutional convention,argued that delegates should not act beyond their mandate to repair the confederacy.The future anti-federalists,represented by Yates and Lansing,opposed the establishment of a national government overturning the sovereignty and freedom of the states,which laid the ideological foundation for the fierce political debate with the federalists during the period of ratification of the constitution.The constitution was published after the constitutional convention in Philadelphia.During the public debate over the constitution,the anti-federalists of New York State were officially appeared on the political stage.They published debating articles in the form of aliases setting out their views and attitudes on the content of the Constitution and the proposed system.They opposed the establishment of a single large republic,advocated the establishment of a coalition of small republics;opposed the granting of absolute and uncontrolled powers to the federal government,advocated the preservation of the sovereignty and status of the State;advocated the protection of the rights and freedoms of the people.The political discourse system of the anti-federalists of New York state during the constitutional public debate influenced the political activities and thoughts of the anti-federalists during the ratification convention of New York State.During the ratification convention,the anti-federalists of New York spared no effort to defend their opposition to the proposed constitution at the convention,and had a heated debate with the federalists on the important issues of the proposed constitution.The anti-federalists of New York State opposed the constitution granted too much power to the federal government;opposed federalists wan to ratify the constitution without amendment,and opposed federal government's violation of the rights and freedoms of the state government and the people.In the final stage of the convention,under the influence of many factors,some anti-federalists,led by Melancton Smith and Samuel Jones,converted to support the constitution,maed New York the 11th state to ratify the constitution.Although the anti-federalists of New York state failed in the debate on the constitution,they finally reached a compromise with the federalists and accepted the constitution,which promoted the improvement of the federal constitution and the adoption and implementation of the constitutional amendment.Their compromise and transformation not only shaped the spirit and principles of American constitutionalism,but also had a profound influence on American political tradition.