Most anti-federalists believed that farming should be the basis of the u. s. economy. what can you infer was the reason behind this belief? most anti-federalists owned textile factories in new england and needed cotton to support their businesses. most anti-federalists represented states in the south where plantations and small farms were plentiful. most anti-federalists were northern bankers who loaned lots of money to farmers. most anti-federalists were merchants in the north and needed cash crops to export.