The early years of the United States Constitution were full of political conflict. The two dominant political ideals were completely opposed. Jeffersonian Republicans strove to bring power to the people and maintain a pastoral economy, while Federalists supported elite class control of government and the maintenance of "positive" democracy. Both parties feared the influence and effect the other party would have on the public. In Linda K. Kerber's article, "The Fears of the Federalists," the main concerns of the Federalists in the early 19th century are described. Since the war and separation from England, American citizens had been continually driven into "patriotic rebellion" as a means of expressing their desires. Violence was not an uncommon practice at the time (the use of mob tactics was widespread), but Federalists feared that if Democratic values ​​were abused and unbridled, the country would descend into anarchy. Federalists sought to maintain a stable culture. After the revolution, they felt that the people could not remain a peaceful people after experiencing such a rebellion1. This reinforced the federalist conviction to maintain control over the people in order to prevent any “mob” behavior2. Thus, the idea of ​​having the population governed by an elite and restricting its role in government was reinforced. However, they were threatened by the lack of deference that was spreading throughout the culture3. As any kind of gentile blood was mostly ignored, this alarmed Federalists because this lack of deference made people "unpredictable and capable of 'mobbishness'"4. They did not trust Republicans to be aware of the "precariousness of the American social system...... middle of paper ......e expansion of the country and contribution to its empirical power14. Kerber's article is a good addition, but it doesn't have enough perspective to stand on its own. The ideals of the Federalists and the Republicans were almost at opposite ends of the political spectrum. The Federalists were cautious, strict, and focused on elite leadership, while the Republicans were more willing to change, to integrate the whole people, and to rebel. Linda K. Kerber's article on the Federalists, "The Fear of the Federalists" provides an appropriate reference on the perspective and beliefs of the Federalists in the early 19th century. Works Cited Foner, Eric. Give me freedom! An American story. New York: WW Norton & Company, Inc, 2007. Hoffman, Elizabeth Cobbs, and Jon Gjerde. edit., Major Problems in American History: Volume 1 to 1877. Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007.