The Essential Antifederalist

by William B. Allen (Editor), Gordon Lloyd (Editor)

Overview

At the pivotal moment in the history of the United States of America, ratification of the Constitution was championed by James Madison, John Jay and Alexander Hamilton in a series of newspaper articles known as the Federalist Papers. In answer to these arguments and as a way of pointing up flaws and weaknesses in the Constitution itself, a number of political thinkers (who mostly used pseudonyms) argued against ratification through articles and speeches which have collectively come to be known as the 'Antifederalist Papers.' This edited collection of readings from Antifederalist thought was first published in 1985. Here presented with a completely revised and updated interpretive essay from the editors and expanded to cover the period of the founding from 1776-91, this book is the most complete one-volume collection of its kind.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742578678
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	12/17/2001
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	374
File size:	812 KB

About the Author

William B. Allen is professor of political science at Michigan State University. A Ph. D. from Claremont Graduate School, Allen is author of The Federalist Papers: A Commentary, Let the Advice Be Good: A defense of Madison's Democratic Nationalism, and editor of All Cloudless Glory: A Biography of George Washington by Harrison Clark. Gordon Lloyd is the John M. Olin Professor of Public Policy at Pepperdine University. A Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate School, Lloyd is the co-editor ofThe Essential Bill of Rights: Original Arguments and Fundamental Documents, as well as the author of numerous articles on federalism and the founding.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Chapter One: Origin of Antifederalist Thought
Chapter 3 John Lansing, George Mason, and Luther Martin, 20 June 1787
Chapter 4 Luther Martin, 27-28 June 1787
Chapter 5 George Mason, Objections
Chapter 6 Richard Henry Lee, Letter to Edmund Randolph, 16 October 1787
Chapter 7 Elbridge Gerry, Objections
Chapter 8 Cato, Letter III
Chapter 9 An Old Whig, Essay VII
Chapter 10 Pennsylvania Minority Report
Chapter 11 Robert Yates and John Lansing, Reasons of Dissent
Chapter 12 Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Alexander Donald, 7 February 1788
Chapter 13 Agrippa, Letters XV and XVI
Chapter 14 Sidney, Essay II
Chapter 15 A Plebian
Part 16 Chapter Two: Antifederalist Views of Federalism
Chapter 17 Federal Farmer, Letters I and XVII
Chapter 18 Centinel, Letter I
Chapter 19 Brutus, Essays I and V
Chapter 20 Agrippa, Letter IV
Chapter 21 Maryland Farmer Essay III, Part One
Chapter 22 Patrick Henry, Virginia Ratifying Convention, 4-5 June 1788
Chapter 23 Virginia Ratifying Convention Amendment Proposals
Part 24 Chapter Three: Antifederalist Views of Republicanism
Chapter 25 Richard Henry Lee, Letter to George Mason, 1 October 1787
Chapter 26 Federal Farmer, Letters II, III, IV and XII
Chapter 27 Old Whig, Essay IV
Chapter 28 Brutus, Essays II, IV, XI, XII, XV
Chapter 29 Cato, Letters V and VII
Chapter 30 John DeWitt, Essay V
Chapter 31 James Monroe, Observations on the Constitution
Chapter 32 Virginia Ratifying Convention, 18 June 1788
Chapter 33 Melancton Smith, New York Ratifying Convention, 20 June 1788
Chapter 34 John Lansing, New York Ratifying Convention, 24 June 1788
Part 35 Chapter Four: Antifederalist Views of Capitalism and Democracy
Chapter 36 Centinel, Letters III, IV, VII, VIII
Chapter 37 A Georgian
Chapter 38 Brutus, Essay III
Chapter 39 Cato, Letter VI
Chapter 40 Agrippa, Letters VII, IX, XII, XIV
Chapter 41 Federal Farmer, Letters VII, VIII, IX
Chapter 42 Maryland Farmer, Essay III, Part II; and Essay VII, Part I
Chapter 43 Mercy Otis Warren, The American Revolution

Editorial Reviews

A splendid collection of documents, in highly useable form. An excellent and convenient tool for teaching.

Forrest McDonald

[This book] has been designed specifically for classroom use and provides a coherent expression of some of the principle themes of Antifederalists.

Eugene W. Hickok Jr.

A compact yet comprehensive and judiciously balanced introduction to Antifederalist thought, perfect for teaching purposes and essential for adoption.

Leonard W. Levy

[This] book is a real service to our profession. The readings [the editors] have selected are very useful ones.

John Koritansky

The Revised Edition of The Essential Antifederalist continues the original, important contribution to the history and thought of the founding, now with an importantly expanded interpretive essay comprehensively reviewing recent scholarship, very helpful apparatus, such as an index, and readier identification of individual entries. This is a MUST for teaching the founding.

Colleen Sheehan

The most comprehensive one-volume access to Antifederalist thought, this volume offers a selected anthology of readings excerpted from the body of Antifederalist writing.

American Spectator

This work is solid with all of the major essays by Antifederalist. .. an excellent selection because it can be readily digested by the general public. They will understand who the antifeds were and what they wrote.

Independence National Historical Park

A review of the original Constitutional debate and especially Antifederalist criticisms help bring focus to other, less-often discussed issues that may have some bearing on the study of the contemporary presidency.

Presidential Studies Quarterly

[This book] has been designed specifically for classroom use and provides a coherent expression of some of the principle themes of Antifederalists.

Eugene W. Hickok

This work is solid with all of the major essays by Antifederalist . . . an excellent selection because it can be readily digested by the general public. They will understand who the antifeds were and what they wrote.--Independence National Historical Park

The Revised Edition of The Essential Antifederalist continues the original, important contribution to the history and thought of the founding, now with an importantly expanded interpretive essay comprehensively reviewing recent scholarship, very helpful apparatus, such as an index, and readier identification of individual entries. This is a MUST for teaching the founding.--Colleen Sheehan, Villanova University

[This] book is a real service to our profession. The readings [the editors] have selected are very useful ones.--John Koritansky, Hiram College

From the Publisher