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3rd Block DBQ The federalists can often be seen as strict constructionists and the anti-federalists can be considered broad constructionists, and to some point this characterization of the two parties was true. The anti-federalists were considered broad when the Louisiana Purchase was bought and the War of 1812 was declared. The federalists were considered strict when they became more opposing of war. Primarily, anti-federalists had already been seen as broad constructionists several times. For one, they agreed upon the acquisition of the Louisiana territory. This could be considered as a loose interpretation of the Constitution because the Constitution does not state that the national government is permitted to purchase territory for the USA. However, the anti-federalists felt that it was implied that the national government was allowed to buy land. They also showed broad constructionism as an idea when they declared war upon Britain. It was constructionism because normally they would try to limit military spending and expansion, yet they declared war. The anti-federalists began to draft soldiers, which is a loose interpretation because it was not said that the national government can draft men, but argued that they were permitted for a necessary cause. The federalists were considered to be strict constructionists. For example, the federalists stated their opposition to the war against Britain. They did this by opposing the idea of drafting men and setting up the Hartford Convention. They did this because they felt that it was not said in the Constitution that the congress has the power to draft men. The Hartford Convention was also a broad constructionism idea because it showed how the federalists were attempting to secede from the war against Britain. This meant that the federalists did not want military expenses to increase or have to increase the size of the military because they felt it went beyond the power that the national government had. Therefore, federalists showed a strict constructionist view. In conclusion, the statement that antic-federalists were seen as broad and federalists seen as strict is true. The federalists showed acts of having a strict constructionism view and the anti-federalists maintain a broad constructionism view.