Ratification Debates
Bill of Rights: Forgotten Role of the 10th Amendment in Its Creation
The Bill of Rights was born from intense battles between Federalists and Anti-Federalists over delegated and reserved powers. This clash not only shaped its contested origins but also left its true purpose misunderstood to this day. 1. Initial Efforts Rejected During...
Repeal the 17th Amendment: The Anti-Federalist Warnings We Must Not Ignore
Repealing the 17th Amendment has become a rallying cry for those seeking to restore federalism. But the Anti-Federalists warned during the ratification debates that structural flaws in the Senate run much deeper than merely the method of election. Corruption,...
A Republic at Risk: Cato’s Anti-Federalist Warnings
“A vile and arbitrary aristocracy or a monarchy.” That’s what the anti-federalist writer Cato warned we would get under the Constitution. This was because, in his view, vague and dangerous provisions, expansive taxing power, excessive executive authority, and too much...
Tench Coxe: Forgotten Federalist who Helped Influence Ratification of the Constitution
Tench Coxe may be the most influential founding father that people have never heard of. For most people, discussions about the meaning of the Constitution begin and end with the Federalist Papers. These essays enjoy immense popularity today mostly due to the fame of...