The dissenting opinions of Patrick Henry and others who saw the Constitution as a threat to our hard-won rights and liberties.
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More About the Author
Ralph Ketcham is Professor of History Emeritus at Syracuse University. His National Book Award-nominated James Madison (Virginia) is the standard single-volume biography of the fourth president. He is a former editor of The Papers of James Madison and the author, most recently, of The Idea of Democracy in the Modern Era.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
181 of 188 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I highly recommend "The Anti-Federalist Papers and the Constitutional Convention Debates" along with the companion volume "The Federalist Papers." Reading these two books will give you both sides of the arguments that revolved around the creation and adoption of our Constitutional government. "The Anit-Federalist Papers.." contains an excellent introduction by Ralph Ketcham, the complete Anti-Federalist papers and Constitutional Convention Debates with commentaries, an Index of Ideas, and cross-references to "The Federalist Papers."
The original intent of the Convention of States was to simply amend the Articles of Confederation, but instead it set out to frame an entirely new constitution. The Conventional debates began on May 29, 1787, in Philadelphia, with the "Virginia Plan" as the topic of the debates. This was James Madison's plan to strengthen the national government. However, not all our founding fathers wanted a centralized government. Statesmen such as Patrick Henry and John DeWitt argued for a decentralized government with a minimal central government. These men saw that the government as depicted in the Constitution would not represent the people adequately and that rights and liberties recently won from England would be lost.
This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn about the political thought which shaped our Constitution.
54 of 55 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Everyone is probably familiar with what the Anti-Federalist papers are, and the other reviews do a great job of explaining this aspect for those who aren't, so there is no great need to do it again. Needless to say, familiarity with the basic Anti-Federalist arguments and their general themes is essential to understanding the foundation from which the Constitution arose and the twists its historical development would undertake. Believe it or not, but strains of Anti-Federalism are apparent even in today's politics, like the arguments for state power found in debates about topics like abortion or gay-marriage.
The biggest question to ask before buying this book, then, isn't why the information is important, but why you should pay money for something that can be found for free online. There are several reasons, for which I give this edition 4 stars:
First, it is an accompaniment to the Signet Classics edition of the Federalist Papers, and has a variety of cross-references to it. If you have both, it makes the search for certain topics and both sides' arguments in its regard much easier.
Second, it has a great introduction. The problem with approaching the Anti-Federalists without any editorial priming beforehand (whether from an introduction, a class, or both) is that one becomes liable to think of the group as nothing but a rag-tag group of guys with as many different opinions as there are men professing them, whose only point of unity is their opposition to Federalism. Their negative name--the "Anti-"Federalists--implies this, after all, and Madison himself tries to play off this point in one of his papers. The masterful introduction tries to prevent this, by expounding on the fundamental, unifying vision of the Federalists, the Anti-Federalists, and exactly how the two differed.
Lastly, there is a variety of tables of ideas that make finding specific points of opposition to specific topics that much easier.
For these three reasons, on top of the simple fact that it groups together all the scattered Anti-Federalist essays (making it more likely that you will actually read them), I believe this book is worth the $8 that it costs today.
It does have some issues, however. First, the paper quality is the same as of the Federalist Papers edition I reviewed before, with the same associated defect of leaving ink blotches behind on your finger. For some reason, it actually leaves less ink than the Federalist Papers, but the pulpy texture is still unpleasant. Second, and most important, is the relatively sparsity of the essays included. As it is, if you take a class that touches on this topic, you will invariably end up having to find several essays online that were not included into this edition. There presently seems to be no medium alternative between buying a sparse edition like this and a full anthology that can cost into the thousands of dollars, however, so you're not likely to find anything better.
The biggest question to ask before buying this book, then, isn't why the information is important, but why you should pay money for something that can be found for free online. There are several reasons, for which I give this edition 4 stars:
First, it is an accompaniment to the Signet Classics edition of the Federalist Papers, and has a variety of cross-references to it. If you have both, it makes the search for certain topics and both sides' arguments in its regard much easier.
Second, it has a great introduction. The problem with approaching the Anti-Federalists without any editorial priming beforehand (whether from an introduction, a class, or both) is that one becomes liable to think of the group as nothing but a rag-tag group of guys with as many different opinions as there are men professing them, whose only point of unity is their opposition to Federalism. Their negative name--the "Anti-"Federalists--implies this, after all, and Madison himself tries to play off this point in one of his papers. The masterful introduction tries to prevent this, by expounding on the fundamental, unifying vision of the Federalists, the Anti-Federalists, and exactly how the two differed.
Lastly, there is a variety of tables of ideas that make finding specific points of opposition to specific topics that much easier.
For these three reasons, on top of the simple fact that it groups together all the scattered Anti-Federalist essays (making it more likely that you will actually read them), I believe this book is worth the $8 that it costs today.
It does have some issues, however. First, the paper quality is the same as of the Federalist Papers edition I reviewed before, with the same associated defect of leaving ink blotches behind on your finger. For some reason, it actually leaves less ink than the Federalist Papers, but the pulpy texture is still unpleasant. Second, and most important, is the relatively sparsity of the essays included. As it is, if you take a class that touches on this topic, you will invariably end up having to find several essays online that were not included into this edition. There presently seems to be no medium alternative between buying a sparse edition like this and a full anthology that can cost into the thousands of dollars, however, so you're not likely to find anything better.
190 of 210 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
These often intense and firey speeches made by the Anti-Federalists or the detractors of the Constitution (as it was being written and then debated) are powerful, passionate and sharp enough to make one feel these words were meant to be weapons, i.e., the front line defense of the freedom and liberty we so easily take for granted today. I feel that much of what is wrong in our political system today was predicted here, and what would constitute the only real solution, i.e., active, democratic citizenship, is also demonstrated here in their willingness to fight against tyranny with reason and passion. How much greater our public debates would be today if this were required reading for all citizens! "Politics" would be thought well of again and refer to what citizens do in noble service to communities, close to home and far away. Do yourself a favor, get inspired again as to the original principles and purpose of democracy, read this book, and believe again! And do something!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Must Read
Think there is tough debate in Congress today? Read this...foundation to our US Constitution did not come easy and without consideration of a central government that would not... Read more
Published 7 months ago by G. Wood
The Anti-Federalists Were Correct
The Federal Government today has way too much power, in complete opposition to what the Founders sought to institute with the Constitution. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Carol
Thank these men for your precious Bill of Rights
This is a captivating read. Having read the Federalist papers previously, the Anti-Federalist papers are equally influential. Read more
Published 8 months ago by K. Burns
Don't get this edition. Font is SMALL!!!!!
I don't mind reading a page or so using a magnifying glass, but the whole book? We're talking small print here. So small that I finally threw it into the dumpster. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Caden
Be an American, or learn o be one.
I decided to revisit my Nation's basis and backbone, so purchased this, plus the Anti-Federalist Papers from Amazon. They arrived quickly and perfectly packaged... Read more
Published 15 months ago by windvane
constitutional
Found it a good book takes you into the beginning debates of the constitution I recommend it and also the federalist papers for the full debate on both sides back when it was... Read more
Published 16 months ago by roughboy
Fascinating Background On Constitutional Debates And Criticisms Of...
Many Americans were clearly quite satisfied with the structure of government under the Articles of Confederation and it had indeed served them well. Read more
Published 17 months ago by RepublicConstitution
Anti-Federalist Papers - Losers view
It is always important to understand the view of those who lost the debate. This book will help those who wish to understand the argument on the otherside of what we became. Read more
Published 20 months ago by financegator
#16 Read this with the Federalist Papers
Our real intellectual for fathers and their anti federalist argument not published in the Federalist Papers.
Published 24 months ago by T. Price
A must for Americans who vote
This should be read by all, especially those who know little about how the country was formed.
Published on March 31, 2010 by Jay H. Colborn
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
For anyone interested in political thought in action, the United States during the 1770s and 1780s is perhaps the most exciting period in the country's history. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
state equality, executive magistrate, one consolidated government, existing confederacy, revisionary power, federal convention, general legislature Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, National Legislature, House of Representatives, State Legislatures, New York, Articles of Confederation, New Jersey, Great Britain, Virginia Plan, Supreme Court, Patrick Henry, North Carolina, Pennsylvania Minority, Southern States, Bill of Rights, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Melaneton Smith, American Revolution, Rhode Island, James Wilson, James Madison, The Federalist Papers, Republican Government, The Federal Farmer New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
For anyone interested in political thought in action, the United States during the 1770s and 1780s is perhaps the most exciting period in the country's history. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
state equality, executive magistrate, one consolidated government, existing confederacy, revisionary power, federal convention, general legislature Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, National Legislature, House of Representatives, State Legislatures, New York, Articles of Confederation, New Jersey, Great Britain, Virginia Plan, Supreme Court, Patrick Henry, North Carolina, Pennsylvania Minority, Southern States, Bill of Rights, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Melaneton Smith, American Revolution, Rhode Island, James Wilson, James Madison, The Federalist Papers, Republican Government, The Federal Farmer New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 31
books:
See all 31 books this book cites
22
books
cite this book:
See all 22 books citing this book
- The Complete Anti-Federalist [Set of 7] by Herbert J. Storing on page 227, page 310, and Back Matter
- Federalist Papers by John Jay on page 21, page 189, and Back Matter
- The Federalist Papers (Dodo Press) by James Madison on page 21, page 189, and Back Matter
- The Spirit of Laws (Contemporary Issues (Prometheus)) by Charles de Secondat on page 245, and page 275
- The Spirit of Laws by Baron De Montesquieu on page 245, and page 275
See all 31 books this book cites
- Restoration of the Republic: The Jeffersonian Ideal in 21st-Century America by Gary Hart in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- The Gendering of American Politics: Founding Mothers, Founding Fathers, and Political Patriarchy by Mark Kann in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- The Twilight of Democracy: The Bush Plan for America by Jennifer Van Bergen in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Interstate Relations: The Neglected Dimension of Federalism by Joseph F. Zimmerman on page 99, and Back Matter
- Why Lawsuits are Good for America: Disciplined Democracy, Big Business, and the Common Law by Carl T. Bogus in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 22 books citing this book
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