Anti-Federalists Archives

BOLDIN: Were the Anti-Federalists Right?

October 29, 2026 Michael Boldin

“A monarchy, or a corrupt, tyrannical aristocracy” That’s what George Mason predicted we’d get under the Constitution. And he was far from alone. The Anti-Federalists repeatedly warned that the Constitution wouldn’t actually create a federal union. Instead, they argued, it would result in a consolidated national government. They pointed to specific parts of the document … Read more

Anti-Federalist Warnings on Consolidation and Tyranny

February 18, 2025February 18, 2025 Mike Maharrey

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

Patrick Henry Credit - Thomas Sully - Virginia Museum of History and Culture

Top-6 Anti-Federalist Warnings

January 8, 2025 Michael Boldin

This government “will swallow the liberties of the people, without giving them previous notice.” That’s one of many stark warnings Patrick Henry gave us in 1788. In a series of fiery speeches during the Virginia Ratifying Convention, he laid out some of the most powerful anti-Federalist arguments against the Constitution. He predicted all kinds of abuses … Read more

Federal Farmer: Will the Judiciary Preserve or Destroy Liberty?

March 8, 2023March 7, 2023 Op-Ed

While many anti-federalists, including Patrick Henry, regarded the judicial branch of the federal government under the proposed U.S. Constitution with deep suspicion, the Federal Farmer took a more moderate, albeit guarded stance.

Patrick Henry Warns of a “Great and Mighty Empire”

August 24, 2022 Op-Ed

On June 5, 1788, Patrick Henry gave a speech at the Virginia Ratifying Convention warning that “consolidation” – centralizing of power – would turn the United States into a dangerous empire.

Nullification - Image Credit tenth am center

The Prophetic Anti-Federalist Warnings About Constitutional Taxing Power

August 5, 2022August 5, 2022 Op-Ed

In June 1794 the United States Congress passed a tax on the ownership of carriages. The tax called for a levy, “Upon all carriages for the conveyance of persons, which shall be kept by or for any person for his or her own use, or to be let out to hire or for the conveyance of passengers, the several duties and rates following.”