Brutus 1

Robert Yates (an Anti-federalist) under the name of 'Brutus'

being an anti-federalist, he did not want a strong federal government

+published October 18, 1787 +published during the time when the Founding Fathers were trying to get the states to ratify the Constitution

the Anti-federalist Papers (about 85 essays written by Robert Yates, Melancton Smith or John Williams to convince the people that the Constitution was a bad idea - 'Brutus 1' is the most famous essay)

he didn't agree with a federal government +didn't want a large republic +was concerned that the two clauses necessary and Proper Clause and the Supremacy Clause

the people of New York

to encourage New Yorkers to reject the ratification of the Constitution

+argued that the Necessary and Proper Clause, the Supremacy Clause, and Congress's ability to lay and collect taxes would give the federal government too much power, which would make people sacrifice their liberties, the states' sovereignty and autonomy +argued why a large republic would be bad for the U.S.

+gives us (students/historians) a view of the anti-federalist views on the Constitution +how anti-federalists wanted America to look like and how they wanted it to be run

+a confederation of small republics is more likely to preserve and protect personal liberties +the large republics could cancel out the voices of the people and states and the authority of the states, because they are bigger in size and could gain more power and could infringe on state sovereignty, which would infringe on the peoples' liberties

Brutus believes that a larger republic based on the principle of consent of the governed, can not efficiently protect the rights and liberties of the states and people because he is concerned that the federal government (Congress and Senate) are going to render the state governments/courts not necessary because they have the Supreme Court

He believes that the federal legislature should not be able to repeal states laws to impose federal laws because it would impose on state sovereignty.