Assignment

Review the Federalist Papers and Anti-Federalist Papers in a historical setting. Think about whether, after reading these essay, you would vote to ratify the Constitution as is, vote against ratification, or vote to ratify only upon amendment with a bill of rights. This will be your thesis.

Prepare a short persuasive essay in which you present your argument, and discuss the arguments made by the two sources. Was the Constitution an abandonment of revolutionary democratic principles and a return to centralized government? Were the branches properly balanced in power? Was the President too like a king? Would the central government control the people's lives, or would the states be able to check the exercise of federal power? You should use sources beyond the papers themselves to help you evaluate the arguments in their proper historical perspective.

Suggested paper length is 6-9 pages; this is a guide only, and students should ensure they address all elements of the assignment with sufficient supporting details to prove their theses.