Which side favored a stronger state government approach for the United States Congress

Democratic republicans such as Thomas Jefferson favored a strong state government and a weak federal government.

The Anti-Federalists favored stronger state governments rather than a more centralized government because they were made up of mainly people living in rural areas and farmers, meaning they wanted a government that would focus on local problems. Most Federalists were stereotyped to be businessmen-like people living in urban areas and wanted an overall central government to focus in on the country's industry and economy.