Claim: During the Hillsborough Convention, the Federalists wanted strengthen the powers of the federal government but were outnumbered two to one by Anti-Federalists who were afraid that the position of president, then a novelty, might evolve into a monarchy.
Evidence: The Federalists wanted to strengthen the powers of the federal government to help the country keep from dissolving. The Anti-Federalist delegates outnumbered their Federalist colleagues by a margin of two to one. Led by Patrick Henry of Virginia, Anti-Federalists worried, among other things, that the position of president, then a novelty, might evolve into a monarchy.