During the drafting of the U.S. Constitution, which two major factions debated ratification?

• A. Whigs and Tories
• B. Democrats and Republicans
• C. Federalists and Anti-Federalists
• D. Loyalists and Patriots

Answer: (C)

The main issue here is how power should be shared between the national government and the states, and how to safeguard individual rights within that framework. During the drafting and ratification of the Constitution, two broad factions clashed: Federalists, who supported ratifying the new framework and favored a stronger central government to unite the states and handle national problems; and Anti-Federalists, who opposed ratification unless safeguards for liberty and limits on centralized power were added. This clash led to the promise of a Bill of Rights and ultimately helped secure ratification by addressing fears of tyranny and ensuring civil liberties. The other pairings belong to different historical contexts and did not define the ratification debate in the way these two factions did.