The Leading Anti-Federalists

Thomas Jefferson

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Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson, considered a founding father of the United States and the author of the Declaration of Independence, was strongly against ratification.  
  • Jefferson believed in a strictly non-federal government system.  He believed that any law not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution should not be practiced by the Federal Government. He therefor believed that the Elastic Clause in the Constitution, which says the Congress can make any law they choose, was a violation of rights.
  • Jefferson believed that the federal government was only needed when dealing with foreign countries. 
  • Jefferson strongly supported state rights, as evidenced by his distaste for elastic clause. He believed the states should have all powers not directly granted to the federal government by the Constitution. 

Elbridge Gerry

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Elbridge Gerry
Elbridge Gerry was one of the more aggressive Anti-Federalists when it came to voicing his concern over the Constitution. He believed strongly that the Constitution should include a Bill of Rights. With this concern in mind, he became one of the three men to not sign the Constitution. Soon after refusing to sign it he gave his support to the Constitution with the added Bill of Rights. 
  • He demonstrated this doctrine of individual power when he defended militias by saying, "What, Sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty. Whenever governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins."

Patrick Henry

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Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry, a governor of Virginia, was the leader of the Anti-Federalist party. He was against the replacement of The Articles of Confederation with the Constitution.
  • Henry's primary concern was that the presidency would evolve into a monarchy, and for this reason he believed the Constitution was wrong. He said, "Among other deformities...it squints towards monarchy...Your president may easily become king."
  • He expressly voiced this fear in his speech "Shall Liberty or Empire be sought," in which he talks about the threat that a strong federal government poses to liberty.

Samuel Adams

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Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams was a less active Anti-Federalist. He played a large role in overthrowing British rule in the American Revolution. That experience gave him strong views on federal tyranny.
  • He shared the fear that a central government would become too powerful, and that the president may take total control and become a king. 
  • Samuel Adams was a key figure in the Revolution, which he believed was fought to overthrow the tyrannical government of England.   
  • He rarely spoke in the Massachusetts ratifying conventions, but rather listened to arguments. 
  • He eventually became a supporter of the Constitution with the proviso of the Bill of Rights. 
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