Heimler's AP Gov Brutus No. 1

AP Gov – Brutus No. 1 (Anti-Federalist Paper)

Background

• Written anonymously (likely Robert Yates) as part of the Anti-Federalist Papers.

• Purpose: Argue against ratification of the Constitution.

• Published in New York newspapers to persuade public opinion.

• Central Question: Should the U.S. remain a loose confederation of states, or form one large republic under the Constitution?

Main Arguments

1. Fear of Centralized Power

• Necessary & Proper Clause (Art. I, Sec. 8) → Congress can pass any law “necessary and proper.”

• Supremacy Clause (Art. VI) → Federal law trumps state law.

• Result: States will lose power → “shrivel up and die.”

• Brutus warns this creates one powerful central government.

2. Taxation Concern

• Power to tax = most important government power.

• If federal gov. collects taxes, states will not be able to collect enough to survive.

• Without revenue → state governments will collapse.

3. Judiciary Concern

• Federal courts will override state courts.

• State courts become unnecessary and obsolete.

• Judicial centralization = more erosion of state authority.

4. Size of the Republic

• Brutus cites Montesquieu (The Spirit of the Laws):

  • Republics can only work in small territories.

• Problems with a large republic:

  • Representatives too far removed from the people.

  • Citizens won’t know their rulers or their actions.

  • Accountability weakens → leaders harder to replace.

• Conclusion: In a nation as vast as the U.S., true representation is impossible.

Core Beliefs

• Confederation of states (like under the Articles) is safer.

• A large republic leads to:

  • Loss of state sovereignty.

  • Concentration of power.

  • Government unresponsive to the people.

Comparison to Federalist 10

• Brutus 1: Large republic = danger, leads to tyranny and disconnection from people.

• Federalist 10: Large republic = solution, prevents tyranny through diversity of factions.

Key Takeaways

• Brutus feared the Constitution would:

  • Destroy state power.

  • Create a powerful, distant central government.

  • Fail to represent the will of the people.

• Advocated participatory democracy and strong state governments over central authority.