The Anti-Federalist Papers Explained
Summary
TLDRThis video from Hip Hughes History explores the lesser-known Anti-Federalist Papers, which opposed the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. While the Federalist Papers supported a strong central government, Anti-Federalists feared that such power would lead to tyranny. Figures like George Clinton and Patrick Henry argued for more localized control and self-rule, warning against the rise of elite power and the erosion of state sovereignty. The video reviews key Anti-Federalist arguments about taxation, standing armies, and the lack of a Bill of Rights, ultimately highlighting their lasting influence on American political thought.
Takeaways
- 📜 The Anti-Federalist Papers, unlike the famous Federalist Papers, also played a crucial role in debating the ratification of the US Constitution.
- 🇺🇸 The Articles of Confederation, used between 1776-1787, provided a loose confederation of states with minimal central government power, leading to issues like Shay’s Rebellion.
- ⚖️ The Federalists advocated for a new Constitution to address these issues, while the Anti-Federalists warned of the dangers of a centralized government.
- 👨⚖️ Prominent Anti-Federalist writers included George Clinton, Patrick Henry, and anonymous figures like Brutus, KO, and the Federal Farmer.
- 💰 Anti-Federalists feared the Constitution would benefit an elite ruling class, increasing the power of bankers, merchants, and politicians at the expense of ordinary citizens.
- 🪖 Anti-Federalist Paper 8 argued against a standing army, believing it could be used to suppress citizens, referencing events like the Whiskey Rebellion.
- 🏛️ Anti-Federalist Paper 9 argued that the new Senate and President were tools of the elite, protecting their interests over those of ordinary people.
- 📜 Paper 17 warned that federal powers, like the elastic clause and judicial supremacy, would eventually erode state power.
- 💡 The lack of a Bill of Rights was a major concern for the Anti-Federalists, leading to the eventual inclusion of the first 10 amendments in the Constitution.
- ⚖️ In their final remarks (Paper 85), Anti-Federalists argued the Constitution needed revisions to prevent federal tyranny and to better secure individual liberties.
Q & A
What were the Anti-Federalist Papers, and how do they compare to the Federalist Papers?
-The Anti-Federalist Papers were a collection of essays written by various authors arguing against the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Unlike the Federalist Papers, which were a unified and organized defense of the Constitution written by prominent figures like Madison, Jay, and Hamilton, the Anti-Federalist Papers were less coordinated, written by different individuals under pseudonyms like Brutus and Federal Farmer.
Why were the Articles of Confederation considered weak, and what event highlighted this weakness?
-The Articles of Confederation were seen as weak because they created a loose confederation of states with a weak central government that lacked a judicial or executive branch, the power to tax, and the ability to maintain a standing army. Shay’s Rebellion highlighted this weakness, showing that the federal government could not handle internal conflicts, which led to calls for a stronger central government.
What was the main fear of the Anti-Federalists regarding the U.S. Constitution?
-The Anti-Federalists feared that the U.S. Constitution would create a strong central government that would become tyrannical, stripping away the liberties of the people and overpowering state governments. They were particularly concerned about the power being concentrated in the hands of the elite, like bankers and merchants.
Who were some of the key figures behind the Anti-Federalist Papers?
-Notable figures behind the Anti-Federalist Papers include George Clinton, the governor of New York, and Patrick Henry, who authored many of the essays. There were also other lesser-known authors who wrote under pseudonyms such as Brutus, Federal Farmer, and Montezuma.
What was the Anti-Federalist view on a standing army, as expressed in Paper No. 8?
-In Anti-Federalist Paper No. 8, the authors expressed concerns about the federal government having a standing army. They feared that such a force could be used to suppress the liberties of citizens, citing examples like the Whiskey Rebellion and the federal government’s use of troops to enforce integration in schools.
What were the Anti-Federalists' arguments against the structure of the Senate and presidency?
-In Anti-Federalist Paper No. 9, the authors argued that the Senate and the presidency were designed to protect the interests of the elite. They viewed the Senate as an unaccountable body, where two-thirds of its members were insulated from election, making it difficult to hold them responsible. They also believed that the House of Representatives was subservient to the more powerful Senate.
What concerns did Anti-Federalist Paper No. 17 raise about federal power over state power?
-Anti-Federalist Paper No. 17 argued that the U.S. Constitution’s provisions, such as the elastic clause, the supremacy clause, and the interstate commerce system, would ultimately allow federal power to grow and dominate state governments, undermining the autonomy of the states.
Why did the Anti-Federalists advocate for amendments to the Articles of Confederation rather than a new Constitution?
-The Anti-Federalists believed that the issues with the Articles of Confederation could be addressed through amendments rather than creating an entirely new Constitution. In Paper No. 22, they argued that abandoning the Articles risked losing liberties to what they saw as an emerging tyranny under the new Constitution.
How did the Anti-Federalists address the issue of taxation in their papers?
-Several Anti-Federalist Papers, including Papers No. 32 through 36, expressed concerns that giving the central government the power to tax would lead to the concentration of too much power. They feared that the federal government would become self-serving and grow beyond control.
What was the Anti-Federalist stance on the lack of a Bill of Rights in the Constitution?
-Anti-Federalist Paper No. 84 emphasized the absence of a Bill of Rights in the Constitution as a major flaw. The Anti-Federalists argued that without explicitly enumerated rights, citizens' liberties were at risk of being infringed upon by the federal government. This argument was influential in the eventual inclusion of the Bill of Rights.
Outlines
📜 Overview of Anti-Federalist Papers and Their Significance
The Anti-Federalist Papers, unlike the more popular Federalist Papers, argued against ratifying the U.S. Constitution. These papers were written by various figures, often under pseudonyms, to express fears about centralizing too much power in the federal government. The Articles of Confederation, which was the governing document from 1776 to 1787, reflected a distrust of centralized authority. However, events like Shay’s Rebellion highlighted the need for a stronger central government, leading to the Constitutional Convention. Federalists supported the new Constitution, while Anti-Federalists feared that it would strip away individual liberties and increase the power of elites.
⚔️ Fear of Federal Military Power
Anti-Federalists, as reflected in Anti-Federalist Paper No. 8, were deeply suspicious of a federal government's ability to suppress insurrections with a standing army. They feared this could lead to the oppression of citizens, citing examples like the Whiskey Rebellion and even the use of federal troops during the desegregation of Little Rock schools as instances of federal overreach. The Anti-Federalists argued that a strong federal military would ultimately undermine state and individual liberties.
🏛️ Criticism of a Consolidated Government and Elite Rule
In Anti-Federalist Paper No. 9, Monazuma (an Anti-Federalist pseudonym) voiced concerns about the Senate and the president acting as protectors of the elite class. They argued that a consolidated government would favor the wealthy over the general public, limiting direct democracy. The Senate was criticized for being too insulated from public accountability, with its members rotating only one-third at a time, and for acting as an aristocratic body, distanced from the people. Anti-Federalists preferred the Articles of Confederation’s focus on state representation over a strong central authority.
🌍 Rhode Island’s Stand and the Difficulty of Escaping Tyranny
Anti-Federalist Paper No. 15 supported Rhode Island’s decision to oppose the new Constitution. The paper argued that transitioning from a free government to an arbitrary one (as they believed the U.S. Constitution would create) was easy, but reversing tyranny would be extremely difficult. The Anti-Federalists saw the Constitution as an invitation to tyranny, warning that once central authority took hold, it would be nearly impossible to regain lost liberties.
⚖️ Federal Power vs. State Power
Anti-Federalist Paper No. 17 highlighted fears that federal power, particularly through mechanisms like the elastic clause, the supremacy clause, and judicial supremacy, would eventually overpower the states. The Anti-Federalists believed that federal institutions, once granted authority, would inevitably seek to expand their power at the expense of state sovereignty and individual liberties. They argued that human nature tends toward the expansion of power, leading to an imbalance that would erode the rights of the states.
🛠️ Amend the Articles, Don’t Abandon Them
Anti-Federalist Paper No. 22 focused on the argument that the Articles of Confederation could be amended to address the nation's problems, rather than scrapping them entirely in favor of the new Constitution. The paper contended that abandoning the Articles in favor of a new constitution would result in the loss of liberties, and urged that any issues be resolved within the existing framework rather than creating a potentially oppressive federal government.
💰 Power to Tax and the Fear of Centralization
The Anti-Federalists, in multiple papers (32-36), argued that giving the federal government the power to tax would lead to the expansion of its authority and reduce the autonomy of the states. They feared that federal taxation would allow the government to grow disproportionately, concentrating power in the hands of a few, and ultimately infringe on the liberties of the people. The Anti-Federalists viewed this as one of the clearest paths to tyranny.
🏛️ The Problem with Factions and Centralized Power
Anti-Federalist Paper No. 37 challenged the Federalists’ argument that the new Constitution would provide a stable framework for managing factions. While acknowledging that Shay’s Rebellion illustrated the dangers of factions, the paper argued that centralizing power to prevent such uprisings would only benefit the elite at the expense of ordinary citizens. The Anti-Federalists warned against giving one faction—the wealthy elite—too much control over the government, which would lead to further oppression.
🔍 Flaws in Checks and Balances
Anti-Federalist Paper No. 51 criticized the checks and balances in the proposed Constitution, arguing that they were insufficient to prevent the federal government from overstepping its bounds. The paper pointed out loopholes, particularly in the president's veto power, which could undermine democratic decision-making by allowing a single individual to block the will of Congress. The Anti-Federalists feared that these gaps in the system would allow the federal government to gradually erode liberty.
🛡️ The Bill of Rights: A Necessary Addition
Anti-Federalist Paper No. 84 strongly advocated for the inclusion of a Bill of Rights in the Constitution. The Anti-Federalists argued that without explicit protections for individual liberties, the new government would be prone to infringing on rights. This paper played a key role in convincing Federalists to adopt the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, ensuring the protection of personal freedoms.
🚨 Final Appeal Against the Constitution
Anti-Federalist Paper No. 85 made a final plea against the ratification of the Constitution, arguing that the issues under the Articles of Confederation were exaggerated and that amending them would suffice. The paper emphasized that the Constitution would lead to the federal government’s oppression of the states and citizens, that the representation in Congress was inadequate to safeguard liberty, and that human nature would push those in power to expand their authority. The Anti-Federalists warned that adopting the Constitution would inevitably result in tyranny.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Anti-Federalist Papers
💡Federalist Papers
💡Articles of Confederation
💡Shay's Rebellion
💡Centralized power
💡Tyranny
💡Supremacy Clause
💡Elastic Clause
💡Bill of Rights
💡Faction
Highlights
Introduction to the Anti-Federalist Papers, often overshadowed by the Federalist Papers but equally important in the debate over the ratification of the US Constitution.
Explanation of the Articles of Confederation, highlighting the fear of centralized power and its connection to the American Revolution's causes.
Shay's Rebellion is introduced as a key event that demonstrated the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and led to calls for a stronger central government.
Overview of the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and the decision to draft a new constitution rather than amend the Articles of Confederation.
The Federalist Papers, authored by Madison, Jay, and Hamilton, aimed to defend the new US Constitution and argue for ratification.
Introduction of the Anti-Federalist Papers, written by figures like George Clinton and Patrick Henry under pseudonyms such as Brutus and the Federal Farmer, opposing the Constitution.
Anti-Federalist Paper #1, 'A Dangerous Plan of Benefit Only to the Aristocrat,' argued that the new Constitution favored elites and centralized power.
Anti-Federalist Paper #8 expresses concern about the federal government's power to use a standing army to suppress insurrections, linking it to fears of government overreach.
Anti-Federalist Paper #9, 'A Consolidated Government is Tyranny,' critiques the Senate and President as protectors of elite interests, calling for direct democracy.
Anti-Federalist Paper #15 defends Rhode Island’s refusal to participate in ratifying the Constitution, warning that tyranny is easier to enter than to escape.
Anti-Federalist Paper #17 argues that federal power will eventually subvert state power through mechanisms like the elastic clause and the supremacy clause.
Anti-Federalist Paper #22 calls for amending the Articles of Confederation rather than adopting a new constitution, emphasizing adherence to established rules.
A series of Anti-Federalist Papers (#32–36) focus on the dangers of giving Congress the power to tax, fearing it would lead to overreach and loss of liberty.
Anti-Federalist Paper #51 critiques the checks and balances system in the Constitution, particularly the President’s veto power, which they argue undermines democracy.
Anti-Federalist Paper #84 calls out the lack of a Bill of Rights in the original Constitution, leading to its later inclusion as a result of Anti-Federalist pressure.
Transcripts
hey guys welcome to hip Hughes history
we have not the Federalist Papers on tap
for you but the Anti-Federalist papers
these papers they don't get any
notoriety like The Federalist Papers but
they exist they're out there so let's
look at the arguments that the anti-feds
had as they argue in sess Across the
Nation against ratifying the US
Constitution here we go gidy up for the
learning than
la la la la
la most of us know the Story Once Upon a
Time some American colonists got
together in 1776 and overthrew the
strongest most powerful Nation on Earth
Great Britain in the American Revolution
now from 1776 to 1787 the first decade
of American History we were run under a
framework of a constitution called The
Articles of Confederation and if you
look at the Declaration of Independence
the reasons why we left Great Britain in
the first place you you can see why that
framework is the way it is it's a very
loose Confederation of states there is
an immense fear of centralized power
that power corrupts therefore don't give
the central government much power at all
and that's in fact true there is only a
congress there's no judicial branch no
executive branch no power to tax there's
no standing army it's very hard to pass
a law it's almost impossible to amend
the Articles of Confederation but that's
because they believed that a limited
government meant more Liberty for
everybody and then The Story Goes that
Shay's rebellion and Insurrection is
going to lead to a fear that this weak
central government can't handle itself
that we need a stronger Union and the
people that believe that go to the
Constitutional Convention in 1787 to
write a new constitution now because you
needed all 13 states to amend the
Articles of Confederation and Rhode
Island was like no way Jose they decided
that rather than trying to amend it they
would just write a whole new
constitution and that's what they did
and by September of 1787 they're like
we're done let's ratify this sucker and
then both sides go out to persuade
Americans either for ratification or
against now the for ratification side
you've already heard about that that's
the Federalist Papers James Madison John
Jay Alexander Hamilton are going to lead
a very centralized effort a unified
effort to go out and Point by Point
defend the new US Constitution to argue
for ratification but there's also
another side the anti-feds and they're
going to write essays under a very much
less unified effort they're not putting
their heads together they're just
throwing spaghetti at the wall in a
sense a couple names you might know you
might know George Clinton governor of
New York you might know Patrick Henry he
authored many of the anti-fed papers but
then there's a whole cast of characters
that you probably don't know and they're
all going to write under pseudonyms like
KO and Brutus and the federal farmer now
it wasn't until 1965 at the University
of Chicago that the anti-fed papers were
compiled into kind of a group that
matched The Federalist Papers but
nevertheless they're very interesting
they very much sound like the tea party
Advocates today people that are saying
that the federal government's corrupt
that the federal government is taking
your Liberty away that we need self-rule
if we're going to have democracy Dem
ocracy be be run localized by the people
that handle the Affairs of their own
business there's an immense fear in the
tea party and the anti-fed party of
centralized power and a fear that this
power corrupts and that the elite the
merchant class the banker class the
industrial class they're really
invisibly holding the levers of power
and their self-interest is out rting the
self-interest of the people so let's
take a look at some of the anti-fed
papers how excited are you and in many
Cas is just reading the titles are
really going to explain where they're
coming from so what are we waiting for
let's take a look at a few of the
anti-fed
papers anti-fed paper one and I love
that it's written by someone who calls
thems a federalist but the title says it
all the title is a dangerous plan of
benefit only to the Aristocrat
combination and what the Federalist
argues in this paper is that lawyers and
the elite and the banker class if you
give them an inside loop to power
they're only going to grow their power
they're going to grow it tenfold and
what he says is I'd rather be a free
citizen of the small Republic of
Massachusetts than an oppressed subject
of an American Empire he says of
politicians they are the Loaves and
Fishes for which they hunger that if you
give them power their self-interest will
outride the self-interest of the people
of the United States more government
less liberty no thank
you anti-fed paper number eight the
power to suppress insurrections using
troops the anti-feds don't like the idea
that the big old government's going to
have a big old army they see it through
the lens that one day and soon after
that the federal government's going to
use this standing army their power to
have a standing army to crush the Liber
of its own citizens in the states they
would argue this can be seen through the
Whiskey Rebellion when Washington is
going to use federal troops to crush an
Insurrection by citizens in Pennsylvania
and then some would argue and I don't
like the argument but that Eisenhower
using troops to integrate the schools of
Little Rock is a crushing of the liberty
of the people of Arkansas so that's
anti-fed paper number eight watch out
for the big old guns of the government
anti-fed paper Number Nine by monaz Zuma
how cool of a name is that for an
anti-fed a consolidated government is
tyranny this is really an argument
against the Senate and the president as
being a protector of the Elite Class
remember the anti-fed papers are very
much Laden with anti-elitism that direct
democracy at the local level people
representing themselves is the best way
to protect Liberty that what a
government's supposed to do so in this
paper they rail a little bit against the
Senate number one that they're the ones
to protect the president and impeachment
trial really the president and the
Senators number two they're only rotated
on a onethird basis so how is there ever
going to be real accountability if
2third of the Senate is entrenched every
election they're also saying that at the
end of the day the Senate sits above the
people that the House of Representatives
in a sense is the monkey child of the
Senate which is the elites the ones that
are in a sense representing the order of
the Union rather than representing the
states so at the end of the day what
these people want is they want a bigger
House of Representatives you know what
they want they want to keep the Articles
of
Confederation anti-fed paper number 15
Rhode Island you're right a whole essay
about how Rhode Island was all good and
all right about walking away from this
shind dig and one of the quotes a really
great quote from anti-fit paper number
15 is it may be easy to change a free
government into an arbitrary one but
that it is very difficult to convert
tyranny into Freedom they see this
effort and they're selling it as a call
to tyranny that the US Constitution will
be tyranny and we need to oppose tyranny
because once you go into tyranny It's A
Hard Road out
anti-fed paper number 17 Federal power
will ultimately subvert state power and
this is probably the main argument that
they're looking at specific wheels of
the constitution in this essay the
elastic clause the supremacy clause the
interstate commerce system this the idea
that there's judicial Supremacy in the
Supreme Court over state courts and
they're saying that ultimately
this is only going to grow and this is
something the Tea Party might say today
that originally the power in the
Constitution was like that big and then
because of the mechanisms in the
Constitution and the innate nature of
human beings to expand power for their
own self-interest that is like this big
now a great quote from that anti-fed
paper is it is a truth confirmed by the
uniring experiences of the ages that
every man and every body of men invested
with power are ever disposed to increase
it you give somebody a little bit of a
cookie they going to want a whole box of
cookies anti-fed paper number 22 amend
the Articles what do you doing we
already have a constitution you can't
just arbitrarily walk away from it and
go write a new one that you got to play
by the rules and this is an essay trying
to persuade the American people let's
follow the rules that the Articles can
be amended we can fix these things
without having to abandon our Liberty on
the foot of the Statue of tyranny the US
Constitution they say is
tyranny if you remember the battlecry of
the American Revolution it's no taxation
without representation so you can bet
your better half that there's a whole
bunch of anti-fed papers that are
directly addressing the power of tax
that the federal government's going to
have specifically Congress so anti-fed
papers 32 33 34 35 36 are all revolving
around this idea that again if you give
the power to tax to the central
government that in a sense you're giving
them the power to feed themselves and
then they give the power of someone to
feed themselves they're going to be a
big old boy one
day anti-fed paper number 37 deals
specifically with f actions trying to
counterbalance the argument on the other
side that the US Constitution is the
best framework to contain factions and
have a healthy Republic and what they
really argue is that yes Shay's
Rebellion Illustrated that a faction
could rise up and try to take the rights
away from another faction in this case
Shay's Rebellion they say that that's
the aristocrats but they also say that
most people lie between these two sides
most of us aren't in debt and most of us
aren't powerful rich people people so
why are we giving the other side the
elites the power to have their own
Revolution to write new rules because
there's an instance of another faction
trying to take their rights away that's
the argument let's not break up the
whole party because there was some party
spoilers anti-fed Paper 51 specifically
deals with the check and balance
arguments of the US Constitution really
to trying to shine some lights through
some of the holes basically saying that
if you give the president the power to
veto that even though it's a two-thirds
majority to override let's be kind of
Common Sense here you're giving the
president basically the right to uh ex
out democracy if people want something
in the house and the Senate they're not
going to be able to get it because of
one guy and there's also other
objections to other checks and balances
where they're trying to show that there
are some holes in here there's going to
be an opport opportunity for the federal
government to play Within those new
rules to get what they want Even though
there's supposed to be checks and
balances to protect Liberty they say
that Liberty shouldn't be protected by
swiss
cheese anti-fed paper 84 is going to be
a winner we have a winner give the kid a
balloon this is going to be on the lack
of a Bill of Rights why oh why is there
no Bill of Rights and really the people
that wrote the Constitution they don't
have a really strong argument to stand
on that the idea that we should write
into the US Constitution to amend it to
have specific protections for Liberty
which is so feared to be lost by these
anti-feds is going to be persuasive and
it is going to force the hand of the
Federalist where we're going to get the
10 Bill of Rights and of course all of
those are down in the description below
as well as the those papers but I talk
too much let's just do one
more # anti-fed paper number 85
concluding remarks the evils under the
articles are exaggerated the
Constitution needs to be greatly revised
and amended It's the final pitch to say
hey hey what do you say this
constitution shouldn't stay we need to
change it it's just too dangerous they
go through Point BYO arguments that
number one the general construct of the
Constitution is going to lead to tyranny
that eventually the states are going to
be subjected to the oppression of the
federal government in the name of the
Union number two they say that this
representation that's held in the
legislature the way that it's
constructed is just not good enough to
secure the blessings of liberty it's not
going to do the job they go through
Congress the power of taxation how that
is too powerful that it's going to lead
to oppression that the courts are going
to be Supreme Over the states and as
that power expands because human nature
is to expand its own power it's going to
subject the state courts to the wills
and the whims of the Union Court the
Supreme Court the president has too much
power at the end of the day it's a final
pitch that if you love your Liberty that
you shouldn't sign on to this US
Constitution that we need to take a
stand as the people consent of the
Govern to say let's stop this bad boy
before it becomes the Tyranny we all
know it's going to be how about that so
there you go guys there's the anti-fed
papers there it is as a summary we hope
that you understand a little bit more
about it than when you press the button
in the beginning of the video and now
I'm going to wish you well I'm going to
say what I always say at the end of
every video lecture retention goes
energy flows we'll see you guys next
time you press me Buttons
what
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