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Describe the conflict and tension between states' rights and strong federal government that has existed from the 1700s through the civil war era. what were the major aims of each side of this debate, who were the leaders of these movements? finally, describe how the fight over states' rights versus federalism occurred, using specific examples to make your argument.

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There were 2 sides of who wanted stronger state power and stronger federal power. These 2 being the Anti-Federalist who supported strong state powers. And the federalist who wanted strong federal powers. These two sides were established even before the United States had a constitution. Some of the federalist leaders were John Adams, John Jay, etc; and some of the Anti-Federalist were Patrick Henry, Henry Lee, etc. 

The fight between states rights and federalism first really kicked of physically with the start of the Civil war. Which was a result of many states seceding from the Union starting with South Carolina. They did so because the federal government was beginning to put more restrictions on slave ownership. Which would have been a direct impact again many southern states economies since slaves were the main driving workforce behind their plantations that produced sugar cane. A war that for the most part was only fought to maintain slavery and resulted in half a million Americans dead. The biggest loss of life in war time in American history. 

The conflicts and tensions between the states' rights as sovereignties and having a strong federal government at the center erupted immediately after the Revolutionary War.

One of the catalyst for tensions was the Shay Rebellion in Springfield, Massachusetts, 1786 and 1787, following the debt crisis when states imposed more taxes on the citizens than they could bear.

Some states could not honor the agreement to fund the federal government.  There were calls for the Confederate Constitution to be jettisoned.  The calls for a strong central government dominated discussions, leading to the Constitutional Conference.  During the conference and the ratification process, some leaders rejected a strong central government on fears that it would assume an absolute power like the British Monarch and become a tyranny.

The opposing party to having a strong federal government was termed the Anti-federalist Party while the supporting party was termed the Federalist Party.  These two main groups issued papers in their parties' names to support their views.  Some of the leaders of the Anti-federalists were Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson.  The Federalists were  Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.

The Anti-federalists opposed the institution of a strong federal government because of the danger of it becoming tyrannical and the absence of the Bill of Rights.  The federalists believed that the Constitution had adequate guarantee of a limited government.

Thus, the two parties offered opposing views and created tensions between the rights of states and a strong federal government.

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