Federal Farmer XVII

The Anti-Federalist Papers

by Patrick HENRY (1736 - 1799)

During the period of debate over the ratification of the Constitution, numerous independent local speeches and articles were published all across the country. Initially, many of the articles in opposition were written under pseudonyms, such as "Brutus", "Centinel", and "Federal Farmer". Eventually, famous revolutionary figures such as Patrick Henry came out publicly against the Constitution. They argued that the strong national government proposed by the Federalists was a threat to the rights of individuals and that the President would become a king. They objected to the federal court system created by the proposed constitution. This produced a phenomenal body of political writing; the best and most influential of these articles and speeches were gathered by historians into a collection known as the Anti-Federalist Papers in allusion to the Federalist Papers. (Summary by Ticktockman)

Listen next episodes of The Anti-Federalist Papers:
Agrippa IX , Agrippa VI , Agrippa VII , Agrippa VIII , Brutus I , Brutus II , Brutus III , Brutus IV , Brutus IX , Brutus V , Brutus VI , Brutus VII , Brutus VIII , Brutus X , Brutus XI , Brutus XII , Brutus XIII , Brutus XIV , Brutus XV , Brutus XVI , Cato III , Cato IV , Cato V , Cato VII , Federal Farmer XVIII , Impartial Examiner I , Impartial Examiner II , Impartial Examiner III , John DeWitt I , John DeWitt II , John DeWitt III , Maryland Farmer IV , Maryland Farmer V , Patrick Henry I , Patrick Henry II , Patrick Henry III , Penn Minority