The Anti-Federalist Papers is a collection of articles that were written in opposition to the Federalist Papers and the ratification of the United States Constitution of 1787.
Clinton), Brutus (presumed to be Robert Yates), Centinel (Samuel Bryan), and Federal Farmer (either Melancton Smith, Richard Henry Lee, or Mercy
Otis Warren). Speeches made by Patrick Henry and Melancton Smith are also included in the collection of anti-Federalist papers.Morton Borden collected 85 of the most significant papers and arranged them in order closely resembling the Federalist Papers, so that a numbered paper of the Federalist corresponded to the same
number in the anti-Federalist papers, which was used to produce The Complete Anti-Federalist was produced in modern times by Herbert Storing and who is considered an authority on the publications. The collection is in seven volumes.The arguments were, for example, against certain aspects of the ratified Constitution like the
position of the President of the United States becoming a potential monarchy; which would replace the original individual freedom that had been granted by the Articles
of Confederation. Of course, the first President of the United States, George Washington could have very easily become a president for the rest of his life, but he would not have it.The Anti-Federalists were the ones who demanded and were promised a Bill of Rights, which before those first ten amendments the Constitution primarily was concerned with limited powers of government and the rules of election, et cetera. Therefore the ratification of the 1787 constitution occurred in 1789 with the addition of those first ten amendments that have come to be known as the Bill of Rights because James Madison and Thomas Jefferson had seen the purpose and its importance.
In studying as to how and why the Constitution of the United States was drafted and finalized to what it is today, it is important to read the Federalist Papers; just as
important is to read the arguments against aspects of that very same Constitution within the Anti-Federalist Papers. It provides an overall scope and understanding of the Constitution and its importance. Just because the anti-Federalists were skeptical of certain aspects of the Constitution of the United States does not jeopardize their loyalty to the new nation or make those founders of the new nation of any less importance than the well-known and wise leadership that most today are aware of. The creation of the
Constitution of the United States and its amendments was a long process, and viewing the importance of those documents, it can be understood why it took so long for its ratification and agreement among the representatives of each colony that had become a state of the unification of states. And, of course, by being representatives
of their particular states, they wanted assurance of that states rights, then and in the future, as well as a system of government that didn’t end up reverting to monarchy or tyranny.
Anti-federalist No. 1: General Introduction: A Dangerous Plan of Benefit Only to The “Aristocratick Combination.”
Anti-federalist No. 55: Will the House of Representatives Be GenuinelyRepresentative? (Part 1)