Anti-Federalist Objections: Pennsylvania Dissent Explained
One of the most influential and widely cited anti-federalist papers wasn’t written by a single individual. It was produced by a group of delegates who rejected the Constitution during the Pennsylvania ratifying convention. Pennsylvania was the second state to ratify...
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...
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...