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Anti-Federalist Papers

During the period between the drafting, proposing, in September 1787, to the ratification of the United States' Constitution, in 1789, there was intense debate. The principal pro-arguments were written in the series the Federalist Papers, by Madison, Hamilton, Jay and others, writing locally.

The anti-arguments appeared in various forms, by various authors, mostly using pseudonyms. Collectively, these anti-ratification arguments have become known as the Anti-Federalist Papers.

Here are some of the more widely read of these, containing warnings of the dangers of tyranny which the proposed Constitution did not adequately provide against; many of these were subsequently addressed in the Bill of Rights, others remained un-addressed.

5 October 1787
Responsibility Over Checks and Balances

8 October 1787
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Observations Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; and to Several Essential and Necessary Alterations to It - I

9 October 1787
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Observations Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; and to Several Essential and Necessary Alterations to It - II

10 October 1787
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Observations Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; and to Several Essential and Necessary Alterations to It - III

12 October 1787
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Observations Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; and to Several Essential and Necessary Alterations to It - IV

13 October 1787
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Observations Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; and to Several Essential and Necessary Alterations to It - V

18 October 1787
To the Citizens of the State of New York: Refuting the Federalist Stance; Extent of the Union vs. States' Rights, Bill of Rights; Taxation - I

22 October 1787
Responsibility Over Checks and Balances; Anarchy, Dissension Between the States

To the Free Citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Liberty vs. Oppression - I

27 October 1787
To the Free Citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Liberty vs. Oppression - II

1 November 1787
To the Citizens of the State of New York: Refuting the Federalist Stance - II

5 November 1787
To the Free Citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Liberty vs. Oppression - I

15 November 1787
To the Citizens of the State of New York: Refuting the Federalist Stance - III

27 November 1787
The New York Journal: Liberty vs. Usurpations - V

29 November 1787
To the Citizens of the State of New York: Refuting the Federalist Stance; House of Representatives - IV

12 December 1787
Address to Constituents: Reasons for Dissent of Half of the Pennsylvania Convention

13 December 1787
To the Citizens of the State of New York: Refuting the Federalist Stance - V

25 December 1787
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; To Several Essential and Necessary Alterations in It; And Calculated to Illustrate and Support the Principles And Positions Laid Down in the Preceding Letters - VI

27 December 1787
To the Citizens of the State of New York: Refuting the Federalist Stance; Broad Construction of Taxing Powers - VI

31 December 1787
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; To Several Essential and Necessary Alterations in It; And Calculated to Illustrate and Support the Principles And Positions Laid Down in the Preceding Letters - VII

3 January 1788
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; To Several Essential and Necessary Alterations in It; And Calculated to Illustrate and Support the Principles And Positions Laid Down in the Preceding Letters - VIII

To the Citizens of the State of New York: Refuting the Federalist Stance - VII

The New York Journal: Liberty vs. Usurpations - VII

4 January 1788
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; To Several Essential and Necessary Alterations in It; And Calculated to Illustrate and Support the Principles And Positions Laid Down in the Preceding Letters - IX

7 January 1788
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; To Several Essential and Necessary Alterations in It; And Calculated to Illustrate and Support the Principles And Positions Laid Down in the Preceding Letters - X

10 January 1788
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; To Several Essential and Necessary Alterations in It; And Calculated to Illustrate and Support the Principles And Positions Laid Down in the Preceding Letters - XI

To the Citizens of the State of New York: Refuting the Federalist Stance - VIII

12 January 1788
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; To Several Essential and Necessary Alterations in It; And Calculated to Illustrate and Support the Principles And Positions Laid Down in the Preceding Letters - XII

14 January 1788
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; To Several Essential and Necessary Alterations in It; And Calculated to Illustrate and Support the Principles And Positions Laid Down in the Preceding Letters - XIII

16 January 1788
Responsibility Over Checks and Balances

17 January 1788
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; To Several Essential and Necessary Alterations in It; And Calculated to Illustrate and Support the Principles And Positions Laid Down in the Preceding Letters - XIV

To the Citizens of the State of New York: Refuting the Federalist Stance - IX

18 January 1788
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; To Several Essential and Necessary Alterations in It; And Calculated to Illustrate and Support the Principles And Positions Laid Down in the Preceding Letters - XV

20 January 1788
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; To Several Essential and Necessary Alterations in It; And Calculated to Illustrate and Support the Principles And Positions Laid Down in the Preceding Letters - XVI

23 January 1788
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; To Several Essential and Necessary Alterations in It; And Calculated to Illustrate and Support the Principles And Positions Laid Down in the Preceding Letters - XVII

24 January 1788
To the Citizens of the State of New York: Refuting the Federalist Stance; Defense with Standing Armies - X

25 January 1788
Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican: Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; To Several Essential and Necessary Alterations in It; And Calculated to Illustrate and Support the Principles And Positions Laid Down in the Preceding Letters - XVIII

31 January 1788
To the Citizens of the State of New York: Refuting the Federalist Stance; Judiciary - XI

7 & 14 February 1788
To the Citizens of the State of New York: Refuting the Federalist Stance; Judiciary - XII

21 February 1788
To the Citizens of the State of New York: Refuting the Federalist Stance; Judiciary - XIII

28 February & 6 March 1788
To the Citizens of the State of New York: Refuting the Federalist Stance; Judiciary - XIV, part 1

20 March 1788
To the Citizens of the State of New York: Refuting the Federalist Stance; Judiciary - XV, part 2

10 April 1788
To the Citizens of the State of New York: Refuting the Federalist Stance; Senate - XVI

Responsibility Over Checks and Balances; Reason Articles Failed

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