State Ratifying Conventions
The Perils of Centralization: Anti-Federalist Federal Farmer No. 2-3
The Federal Farmer lays out a laundry list of reasons why the system under the constitution โwill have a strong tendency to aristocracy, or the government of the few.โ Predicting it would ultimately result in a consolidated government ruling by โfear and force.โ Path...
Beware of Tyrants: Anti-Federalist Federal Farmer No. 1
In the first of his 18 anti-federalist letters, the Federal Farmer warned against adopting a new system hastily out of fear, which has always โbeen the custom of tyrants and their dependents.โ Instead, he urged caution – and a deeper look at what might lead to...
Militia vs Standing Army: The Founders’ View
To a vast majority of the founding generation, standing armies were extremely dangerous, โthe bane of liberty.โ The best way to prevent them? Render them unnecessary. Path to Liberty: January 10, 2024...
Bill of Rights: Unnecessary and Dangerous?
During the ratification debates, Federalists repeatedly warned that adding a bill of rights would be unnecessary – and even dangerous. Learn what they had to say – where they made good points – and missed the mark too. Path to Liberty, Fast Friday...