Lesson 13: What Was the Anti-Federalist Position in the Debate about Ratification?
What was the rationale for the ratification process adopted by the Framers? (Video)
Philadelphia Convention - responsibility to suggest amendments to the Articles of Confederation; amendment process in the Articles - thirteen states required; need for separate ratification process; convention process in states; ratification by the people instead of the states; election of delegates to state conventions; Federalist Papers; Preamble to the Constitution - We the People...not We the States.
Student Questions: Unit 2, Lesson 13, Sections 1-3 (pdf download)
What were the key elements of the Anti-Federalists' opposition? (Video)
Anti-Federalists supported a federal system as opposed to a national system; objected to strong national government; claimed not possible to create a national government in diverse and large society without destroying liberty.
Why were the Anti-Federalists concerned with the lack of a Bill of Rights and other parts of the Constitution? (Video)
Focus upon lack of Bill of Rights a means of gaining popular support for opposition; other criticisms focus upon granting too much power to the national government, e.g., the Necessary and Proper Clause as giving too much power the Congress, checks and balances as providing opportunities for corruption; treaty making power of the president. Anti-Federalists' arguments in contemporary debates.
Anti-Federalist Papers (Audio)
Readings of fifty-six Anti-Federalist papers. From LibriVox.
60-Second Civics, Episode 353: Secession (Audio)
A discussion on the issue of secession.
60-Second Civics, Episode 354: Ratification (Audio)
The beginning of an examination of the ratification of the Constitution.
60-Second Civics, Episode 355: Problems With Amending the Articles of Confederat (Audio)
The problems with amending the Articles of Confederation.
60-Second Civics, Episode 356: Ratification: Approval by the People (Audio)
James Madison's plan for ratification.
60-Second Civics, Episode 357: Ratification and Social Contract Theory (Audio)
How the plan to ratify the Constitution was consistent with natural rights philosophy.
60-Second Civics, Episode 358: Opposition to Ratification (Audio)
The beginning of a discussion of the debates over the Constitution.
60-Second Civics, Episode 359: The Anti-Federalists (Audio)
An introduction to the Anti-Federalists.
60-Second Civics, Episode 360: Anti-Federalists (Audio)
A discussion of leading Anti-Federalists.
60-Second Civics, Episode 361: Ratification and Reasoned Discourse (Audio)
Continued discussion of the ratification debates.
60-Second Civics, Episode 362: Anti-Federalist Principles (Audio)
Key elements of the Anti-Federalists' opposition to the Constitution.
60-Second Civics, Episode 363: Anti-Federalist Fears of Distant Government (Audio)
Anti-Federalists' beliefs about governance over great distances.
60-Second Civics, Episode 364: Anti-Federalists on Civic Virtue (Audio)
A look at the Anti-Federalist beliefs about civic virtue.
60-Second Civics, Episode 365: Anti-Federalist Fears (Audio)
Anti-Federalist opinions about the dangers of the government proposed by the new Constitution.
60-Second Civics, Episode 366: Anti-Federalist Concerns about Congress (Audio)
Specific Anti-Federalist arguments against the Constitution.
60-Second Civics, Episode 367: Anti-Federalist Fears About the Executive Branch (Audio)
Anti-Federalist concerns about the power of the president.
60-Second Civics, Episode 368: Anti-Federalist Concerns about the National Judic (Audio)
Anti-Federalist concerns about the national judiciary.
60-Second Civics, Episode 369: Anti-Federalists and Checks and Balances (Audio)
The Anti-Federalist problem with the system of checks and balances.
60-Second Civics, Episode 370: Anti-Federalists and Checks and Balances (Audio)
Further examination of the system of checks and balances.
60-Second Civics, Episode 371: Domination by an Elite (Audio)
Further examination of the fears of the Anti-Federalists.
60-Second Civics, Episode 372: Anti-Federalists and the Bill of Rights (Audio)
The Philadelphia Convention delegates' greatest tactical error.
60-Second Civics, Episode 373: Anti-Federalists Argue for a Bill of Rights (Audio)
Anti-Federalists' concern of a ""distant"" national government and the need for a bill of rights.
60-Second Civics, Episode 374: Anti-Federalist Worries about Individual Freedoms (Audio)
Why the Anti-Federalists were concerned about the lack of a bill of rights in the Constitution.
60-Second Civics, Episode 375: More Anti-Federalist Objections to the Constituti (Audio)
Why the Anti-Federalists were concerned about the broad powers of the government under the proposed Constitution.
60-Second Civics, Episode 376: Anti-Federalists and Republican Principles (Audio)
Anti-Federalists wanted to remind the people of the principles of our political system.
