American civ

Anti-Federalists
• Effort to prevent ratification of Constitution of 1787
• Somewhat disorganized effort in keeping with the Anti-Federalist
position and perspective
• Equally nation-wide as Federalists
• Unsuccessful because of merely against ratification; Articles had little
to recommend preservation
• Yet, they were emphatically FOR something

Brutus (Robert Yates)
A key New York figure in opposition to Stamp Act.
Local Albany alderman from 1771 – 1775
Helped draft New York state constitution after Independence
Appointed to New York Supreme Court in 1777
Leading opponent to ratification, elected in 1788 to oppose at
New York ratification convention
Became Chief Justice of New York Supreme Court in 1790 and
served until mandatory retirement in 1798.
Died in 1801; seen as best Anti-Federalist author

The Centinel (Samuel Bryan)
Son of Judge George Bryan, a prominent Pennsylvania statesman
Writings lack systematic nature; more like spontaneous speeches
Generally more conspiratorial and incendiary

Cato (George Clinton)
An often forgotten founder but essential to Independence
Veteran of Seven Year War Served as New York Governor
from 1777 until 1795 while still serving in
Continental Army
Deeply opposed to surrendering state sovereignty
Served as Vice President under Thomas Jefferson and
James
Madison
Died in 1812 while still serving as Vice President

Anti-Federalist Republicanism & Montesquieu
• Recall Federalist 9: Hamilton went to great lengths to argue that
Montesquieu had favored large republics
• Primary cause was the Anti-Federalist appeal to the authority of
Montesquieu on republicanism
• Traditional republican thought emphasized local bonds of citizenship
and self- sacrifice
• Montesquieu understood to be the greatest advocate for this view

Anti-Federalist Republicanism & Montesquieu
• For appeals to Montesquieu, see Brutus (pg. 113)
• See The Centinel (pg. 119, 124)
• See Cato (pg. 126-7)
• Hence, Hamilton had to strike at the heart of their source by citing
what he regarded as proof of Montesquieu’s endorsement of large
republics
• It is important to understand the authority of Montesquieu among
advocates of republican government. He stood above all others at
the time.

Key Features of Anti-Federalist Republicanism
• Opposition to large republic
• Brutus, 112-3
• The Centinel, 118-9
• Cato, 127
• Large republics rendered public good unknowable
• Creates condition for the few to conspire
• Reducing size for individual republics in confederation only way to
ensure a knowable public good at the local level and capacity to
negotiate among the republics over a common policy

Key Features of Anti-Federalist Republicanism
• Opposition to Standing Army
• Brutus, 114-5
• The Centinel, 119
• Cato, 127
• Citizen-soldiers fight for their homes; ties individual liberty to
willingness to preserve it; ties liberty to home and family;
unwillingness to oppress fellow neighbors
• Professional armies fight for money; depends on conquest and
booty; ties are to personal gain or possible one’s fellow soldiers;
every incentive to oppress

Key Features of Anti-Federalist Republicanism
• Opposition to Centralized Taxing Power
• Brutus, 111-2
• The Centinel, 119
• Tied closely to opposition to standing army—taxes pay the army in
lieu of booty; but merely a transfer of booty from citizens to
government to soldiers rather than from citizens to soldiers
• Highly doubtful a few, distant representatives can redistribute
revenue for common good; better for taxes to be raised locally for
local projects approved by local populations

Key Features of Anti-Federalist Republicanism
• No Bill of Rights
• Brutus (146-7; indirectly)
• The Centinel (122, 124)
• Several states had bills of rights intended to defend explicitly
individual from state encroachment on individual affairs and insist on
fair and equal treatment before the law (i.e. jury trials, no double
jeopardy, etc.)
• No bill of rights combined with extent of legislative authority admits
that the new government is implicitly despotic

Key Features of Anti-Federalist Republicanism
• Dissolution of States
• Brutus (pg. 115-6)
• Cato (pg. 127-8)
• States composed of relatively similar, closely networked individuals
who have already consented under new constitutions to form state
governments in defense of their liberty
• Federal government consolidates too many different people, ways of
life, experiences, etc. to promote harmonious civic life and, a result,
creates conditions for a despot to exploit

Key Features of Anti-Federalist Republicanism
• New Constitution favors the rich
• The Centinel (pg. 118, 122, 124)
• Cato (pg. 127)
• Republican government requires all citizens to benefit from self-
government and the laws derived therefrom
• Those calling for a convention are mostly among landowners and
merchant classes unhappy with their personal economic issues and
seeking to use their clout to establish a new aristocratic benefit at the
expense of the small farmer

Key Features of Anti-Federalist Republicanism
• New Constitution too complicated
• The Centinel (pg. 124-5)
• Real republics do not need complicated institutional design to
compensate for their failure to address the issue of a sovereign
people
• Complicated institutional designs depend far too much on supposed
human ingenuity and merely produce confusing result, which render
the people insecure and offer opportunities for the few