The Anti-Federalist Papers- The Rights Of The Individual And The Power Of Government

Softcover - 448 pages

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Edited and with an introduction by Ralph Ketcham

Should the central government of the United States be stronger than the individual state governments? Should the members of the government be elected by direct vote of the people? Does slavery have any place in a nation dedicated to liberty? Should the government be headed by a single executive, and how powerful should he be? Should immigrants be allowed into the United States? Which citizens should have the vote? How should judges be appointed, and what should their role in government be? What human rights should be safe from government infringement? In 1787, these important questions and others were raised as the states debated the merits of the proposed Constitution. Along with The Federalist Papers , this invaluable book documents the political context in which the Constitution was born.

The Federalist Papers defended the concept of a strong central government with their arguments in favor of the Constitution. The Anti-Federalist Papers revealed the dissenting opinions of such statesmen as Patrick Henry and John DeWitt, who saw in the document threats to rights and liberties so recently won from England . Although the Anti-Federalists lost, they came close to winning, and their opinions represent an important contribution to the American political tradition.

This volume includes complete texts of Anti-Federalist papers and Constitutional Convention debates, commentaries, and an Index of Ideas. The book also lists cross-references to the companion volume, The Federalist papers, which is also available in a Mentor edition.