The Anti-Federalist Papers and the Constitutional Convention Debates

THE BIRTH OF WHAT HAS BECOME THE WORLD'S OLDEST, STILL-IN-USE CONSTITUTION The Federalist Papers defended the concept of a strong central government with their arguments in favor of the Constitution. The Anti-Federalist Papers revealed the dissenting opinions of such statesmen as Patrick Henry and John DeWitt, who saw in the documents threats to rights and liberties so recently won from England. Although the Anti-Federalists lost, they came close to winning, and their opinions represent an important contribution to the American political tradition. This volume includes complete texts of Anti-Federalist papers and Constitutional Convention debates, commentaries, and an Index of Ideas. The book also lists cross-references to the companion volume, The Federalist Papers, which is also available in a Mentor edition.