The essential debate on the Constitution: Federalist and Antifederalist speeches and writings : the brilliant battle of ideas that still shapes the nation

Publisher

Library of America

Publication Date

[2018]

Language

English

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From the Book

Preface / by Bernard Bailyn

Introduction / by Robert J. Allison

Part 1: The debate opens. Benjamin Franklin, Speech at the conclusions of the Constitutional Convention, September 17, 1787

Alexander Hamilton, Conjectures about the new Constitution, late September 1787

James Wilson, Speech at a public meeting, October 6, 1787

Brutus I, October 18, 1787

A political dialogue, October 24, 1787

James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, October 24, 1787

Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, December 20 1787

Cato III, October 25, 1787

Publius (Alexander Hamilton), The Federalist no. I, October 27, 1787

Part 2: Opposition organizes. Elbridge Gerry to the Massachusetts General Court, November 3, 1787

Letters from the Federal Farmer to The Republican, November 8, 1787

Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, November 13, 1787

George Mason, Objections to the Constitution, November 22, 1787

Robert Yates and John Lansing, Jr., to Governor George Clinton, January 14, 1788

Part 3. Toward a new understanding of politics. Publius (James Madison), The Federalist no. 10, November 22, 1787

A Countryman (Roger Sherman) II, November 22, 1787

Brutus IV, November 29, 1787

Americanus (John Stevens, Jr.) III, November 30, 1787

Samuel Adams to Richard Henry Lee, December 3, 1787

A Landholder (Oliver Ellsworth) VII, December 17, 1787

Publius (Alexander Hamilton), The Federalist No. 23, December 18, 1787

Brutus VII, January 3, 1788

Publius (Alexander Hamilton), The Federalist no. 30, December 28, 1787

Part 4: Slavery and liberty. Luther Martin, The genuine information VIII, January 22, 1788

Giles Hickory (Noah Webster) I, December 1787

Publius (James Madison), The Federalist no. 39, January 16, 1788

On the new Constitution, January 28, 1788

Brutus XI, January 31, 1788

Civis (David Ramsay) to the citizens of South Carolina, February 4, 1788

Publius (James Madison), The Federalist no. 54, February 12, 1788

Part 5: The future of the American republic. Publius (James Madison), The Federalist no. 51, February 6, 1788

Brutus XII, February 7 and February 14, 1788

Harry Innes to John Brown, February 20, 1788

Joseph Spencer to James Madison, Enclosing John Leland's objections, February 28, 1788

Publius (Alexander Hamilton), The Federalist no. 70, March 15, 1788

Brutus XV, March 20, 1788

Publius (Alexander Hamilton), The Federalist no. 78, May 28, 1788

George Washington to John Armstrong, April 25, 1788

Part 6: The state ratifying conventions. Pennsylvania. James Wilson, Opening address, November 24, 1787

James Wilson and John Smilie debate the need for a bill of rights, November 28, 1787

Benjamin Rush speaks against a bill of rights, November 30, 1787

James Wilson on the slave-trade clause, December 3, 1787

Robert Whitehill replies to Wilson on the slave-trade clause, December 3, 1787

Dissent of the minority of the Pennsylvania Convention, December 18, 1787

Massachusetts. Fisher Ames on biennial elections and the "volcano" of democracy, January 15, 1788

An exchange on the powers of Congress and its probable corruption, January 17, 1788

Amos Singletary and Jonathan Smith on "Leviathan" and on the danger of anarchy, January 25, 1788

Daniel Shute and William Jones on religious tests, January 31, 1788

John Hancock proposes ratification with recommended amendments, January 31, 1788

Samuel Adams supports Hancock's proposition, January 31, 1788

John Hancock's final observations, "We must all rise or fall together," February 6, 1788

The form of the ratification of Massachusetts, February 6, 1788

South Carolina. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney explains America's unique "structure of freedom," May 14, 1788

Patrick Dollard fears a corrupt and despotic aristocracy, May 22, 1788

Virginia. Patrick Henry's opening speech opposing ratification, June 4, 1788

Patrick Henry states his main objections, and James Madison responds, June 12, 1788

George Mason and James Madison debate the slave-trade clause, June 17, 1788

New York. Robert R. Livingston, Melancton Smith, and John Jay debate aristocracy, representation, and corruption, June 23, 1788

Melancton Smith fears the federal taxing power, June 27, 1788

North Carolina. James Iredell on the presidency and the pardoning power, July 28, 1788

James Iredell on impeachment, July 28, 1788

Henry Abbot and James Iredell debate religious tests, July 30, 1788

The Rev. David Caldwell and Samuel Spencer debate religious toleration, July 30, 1788

The Constitution Chronology, 1774-1804

Biographical notes

Note on the texts.

Subjects

Constitutional history
Constitutional history -- United States -- 18th century -- Sources
Federal government
Federal government -- United States -- History -- 18th century -- Sources
History
Politics and government
Sources
United States
United States -- History -- 18th century -- Sources
United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1789 -- Sources

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Contributors

Allison, Robert J. editor
Bailyn, Bernard editor
United States

ISBN

9781598535839

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