Anti-Federalist Warnings on Consolidation and Tyranny

In a heated war of words, Luther Martin responded to a series of essays penned by Oliver Ellsworth under the pseudonym Landholder, defending his colleague Elbridge Gerry against Federalist attacks and reinforcing key Anti-Federalist warnings about consolidation and the dangers of unchecked federal power. Gerry and Martin were both delegates to the Philadelphia convention, and neither … Read more

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Before Boston: The Tea Revolt That Began in Philadelphia

The Boston Tea Party is arguably the best-known event leading up to the war for independence, but a number of leading Revolutionaries, including Benjamin Rush and John Adams, held that it actually started in Philadelphia. Resolutions adopted during a Philadelphia town meeting on Oct. 16, 1773, set the stage for the Boston Tea Party in … Read more

Eldridge Gerry

The Anti-Federalist Views of Elbridge Gerry

Elbridge Gerry opposed the ratification of the Constitution, believing it consolidated power, lacked safeguards for individual liberties, and undermined the reserved powers of the states. He maintained his objections throughout the ratification process, despite fierce opposition that sometimes turned personal. As one of the most active delegates at the Philadelphia Convention, Gerry repeatedly sought to … Read more

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The Federal Loophole That Fuels Asset Forfeiture Nationwide

A federal asset forfeiture program known as equitable sharing provides law enforcement agencies with a major loophole, allowing them to continue seizing property almost unabated – even when state laws seek to limit such practices. WHAT IS ASSET FORFEITURE? Civil asset forfeiture is the process by which governments seize cash or property that was allegedly … Read more

Forgotten Foundation of the Revolution: Letters from a Farmer

John Dickinson’s Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania rank among the most important essays espousing the cause of liberty during the American Revolution. Yet, today – few people have read or even heard of them.  Written in response to the Townshend Acts, Dickinson covered a lot of ground, but he emphasized several key principles over and over … Read more

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