by Herbert Storing

The framing and adoption of the U.S. Constitution in 1787 and 1788 was a contentious process. With memories of life under George III still fresh, many people feared the establishment of a stronger national government than provided for in the Articles of Confederation. The opponents of a strong Constitution have gone down in history as the Anti-Federalists. Storing argues that the Anti-Federalists need to be counted among the "Founding Fathers," for their opposition to the Constitution resulted in the Bill of Rights to assuage some of their fears. The Anti-Federalists addressed other issues, such as whether a large standing military force is desirable in peacetime, that are still being debated today. Indeed, many contemporary political thinkers share the Anti-Federalists' concerns over the proper role and authority of the federal government. This collection of writings and speeches by major Anti-Federalist leaders is vital to understanding the history and form of the U.S. Constitution.