In the debate over the Constitution, the Federalists favored a strong national government. To confirm this answer, you can refer to primary sources such as the Federalist Papers. These were a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, who were some of the leading Federalists. Their writings emphasized the need for a strong central government to unite the states and provide stability and security. Additionally, the Federalists argued that a strong national government would be better equipped to handle issues such as national defense, foreign policy, and interstate commerce.