In 1787 when the Constitution Convention finished its work it faced the task of ratification. This required the approval of 9 states. Many people were concerned that this new constitution gave too much power to the federal government and threatened the liberties of individual citizens. These people became known as the Anti-Federalist. Their fear was that they were trading the tyranny of British King George III for a regime of home grown authoritarians. In response came the Federalist Papers published in the New York Independent Journal under the author Publius. The real authors were Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. There are 85 essays in all each addressing different issues of the time about this new national government. .
The Anti-Federalist arguments came from the experience with the British. Their belief was that a centralized government and/or power breads tyranny. The only way to assure everyone's liberties was to spread power to each state. Madison argued that this is what representative democracy stands for. Madison believed that the people's rights would best be protected in a large, diverse federal government. This would assure that the narrow interest of few would not over rule the vast interest of the many, as it would in an individually run local government. The Federalist authors attempted to convey this message in each essay, until the constitution was finally ratified in July 1788.
James Madison, in Federalist #46 entitled "The Influence of the State and Federal Government Compared", discussed reasons as to why the national government would never unnecessarily exceed the powers of the State governments, except in times of war or danger. His reason for this is that one, the States would continue to make there own local laws and the National Government would only make the laws that would govern the nation. Secondly the government is not stronger than millions of civilians with guns.
