Who supported the new constitution and favored a strong central government?

• A. Federalists
• B. Antifederalists
• C. Bill of Rights Advocates
• D. Populists

Answer: (A)

Supporting a strong central government and endorsing a new national framework is the stance of the Federalists. They argued that a powerful national government was needed to handle defense, regulate interstate commerce, manage debt, and unify the states under a workable system. The Constitution they supported creates a national authority with a system of checks and balances, a robust executive, and a federal judiciary—features they believed would overcome the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and provide lasting stability. They also contended that rights could be protected through a Bill of Rights if added, but the essential aim was a stronger central government.

Antifederalists opposed ratification or pushed for explicit protections for state sovereignty and individual liberties, fearing tyranny from a strong central government. Populists and the phrase “Bill of Rights Advocates” reference different historical currents that aren’t about backing a stronger national government in the framing era in the same way.