Which areas were known to support the Anti-Federalists?

The South and West were known to support the Anti-Federalists due to a variety of social, economic, and political factors. The Anti-Federalists were concerned about the potential for a strong central government to infringe upon the rights of individuals and the sovereignty of the states. In the Southern and Western regions, there was a strong emphasis on agrarian interests and a preference for local governance, which aligned more closely with the Anti-Federalist viewpoint that advocated for states’ rights and a more decentralized government.

In these areas, many citizens feared that a powerful federal government would cater primarily to the interests of urban elites and wealthy merchants, which they believed would undermine their own interests and way of life. The movement for personal and state rights resonated deeply in the South and West, particularly in relation to land ownership, slavery, and local governance. This regional support was pivotal in shaping the debate surrounding the ratification of the Constitution and the eventual addition of the Bill of Rights to safeguard individual liberties against federal overreach.

While other regions had varying opinions, such as the urban centers in the North, which often leaned towards Federalist ideas due to their economic interests, the primary strength of the Anti-Federalists was notably rooted in the rural and frontier