The Anti-Federalists and Federalists had differing views on Congress's authority to levy taxes.
Anti-Federalists were generally opposed to granting Congress broad powers to levy taxes. They were concerned that a centralized government with significant taxation powers would infringe upon the rights of individual states and citizens. They believed that the power to tax should lie primarily with the state governments, as they were seen as being closer to the people and better able to understand their needs. Anti-Federalists feared that a strong central government could abuse its tax power to impose excessive burdens on the people or favor certain regions over others.
On the other hand, the Federalists supported the idea of Congress having the authority to levy taxes. They believed that a strong federal government was necessary for the stability and effectiveness of the newly formed United States. Federalists argued that a central government with the power to levy taxes would provide the necessary resources for national defense, infrastructure development, and the general welfare of the nation. They believed that a centralized approach to taxation would eliminate the inconsistencies and inefficiencies that could arise from each state having separate tax laws.
Despite these differences, both Anti-Federalists and Federalists agreed that a system of checks and balances should be in place to prevent the abuse or misuse of taxing powers. This ultimately led to the compromise of including specific limitations on Congress's taxing powers in the United States Constitution, such as the requirement that all direct taxes be levied in proportion to a state's population.
how did the anti-federalist and federalist differ in their views of congress's authority to levy taxes
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