What the Anti-Federalists Were for: The Political Thought of the Opponents of the Constitution

By Herbert J. Storing

Book Overview

The Anti-Federalists, in Herbert J. Storing's view, are somewhat paradoxically entitled to be counted among the Founding Fathers and to share in the honor and study devoted to the founding. "If the foundations of the American polity was laid by the Federalists," he writes, "the Anti-Federalist reservations echo through American history; and it is in the dialogue, not merely in the Federalist victory, that the country's principles are to be discovered." It was largely through their efforts, he reminds us, that the Constitution was so quickly amended to include a bill of rights.

Storing here offers a brilliant introduction to the thought and principles of the Anti-Federalists as they were understood by themselves and by other men and women of their time. His comprehensive exposition restores to our understanding the Anti-Federalist share in the founding its effect on some of the enduring themes and tensions of American political life. The concern with big government and infringement of personal liberty one finds in the writings of these neglected Founders strikes a remarkably timely note.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226775747
• ISBN13: 9780226775746
• Release Date: January 1981
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 120 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.1" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Anti-corporate

"Federal", as in "federation" and "league", relates to commercial entities and commercial contract. Keep in mind, the United States is not a country but a corporation with no jurisdiction outside it's "ten mile square" district and the 18 enumerated functions of Congress Assembled (aka The United States).

A rare source

The anti-federalists were really the federalists, they lost, and they're forgotten. Some of them predicted that if the constitution were adopted, even with the Bill of Rights, that the government it created would abuse its power and that there would be no agency to stop it. Imagine that! Dr. Storing gives the antis a fair hearing, though he (mistakenly in my opinion) believes them wrong. I don't know of many other sources for that.

Whatever

Guy Smith complains that can't understand Herbert Storing's prose (but is this Storing's fault or Mr. Smith's? This was one of the most helpful books I read in graduate school, and I found Storing's writing academic, but accessible) and then makes errors in his critique! Unbelievable. This is an oustanding book by the person almost singularly responsible for recovering the thought of the anti-Federalists.

Review

academic book which provides a serious overview of where our nation started. Discusses significant issues as well as bringing up issues not normally mentioned in regards to the Federalist Papers