OPPapers.com Essay Index >> History Other >> Book Review
We have many free term papers and essays on Book Review. We also have a wide variety of research papers and book reports available to you for free. You can browse our collection of term papers or use our search engine.
Book Review Essay. Book Review Essay Linda Holz ... first edition. Two areas
will be considered in this book review. The first centers ...
The Hidden Life Of Dogs: Book Review. The Hidden Life of Dogs: Book Review
The Hidden Life Of Dogs was written by Elizabeth Thomas ...
Farewell to Manzanar Book Review. Farewell to Manzanar Book Review ?
What is Pearl Harbor??(4). The book I read was Farewell ...
How to write a book review. How to Write a Book Review A critical book
review is not a book report or a summary. It is basically ...
Book Review of The Namesake. Book Review Abbey Parise The Namesake Jhumpa
Lahiri ?We could learn a lot from crayons; some are sharp ...
Submitted by ryanwitski on December 5, 2005
Category: History Other
Words: 875 | Pages: 4
Views: 276
Popularity Rank: 26,549
Average Member Grade: N/A (Add a Comment / Grade this Paper)
In a 1955 article for the William and Mary Quarterly, Cecelia Kenyon referred to the Antifederalists as "men of little faith." In The Antifederalists: Men of Great Faith and Forbearance, David J. Siemers argues that the opposite is true. Far from being a monolithic bloc of knee-jerk reactionaries, the Antifederalists emerge as thoughtful, restrained, and concerned men. Too long stereotyped and overlooked by most Americans, the Antifederalists are brought back to life through Siemers' book, and in doing so it emerges that many of their complaints about the Constitution have since proven to be eerily prophetic, and well worth reading in modern America.
The first chapter encompasses a thorough yet simple history and explanation of who the Antifederalists were and what they believed. Succeeding chapters supply samples of Antifederalist documents, edited and arranged by topic. The inclusion of so many primary sources gives the reader a chance to really get to know these men on a more personal level. Readers are able to analyze the Antifederalists and their beliefs directly, not simply through Siemers' lens.
A close examination reveals that for all the difference of opinion, there were identifiable core beliefs held by nearly all Antifederalists. First and foremost, everyone agreed that the Articles of Confederation needed revision. They also tended to agree that any new government must have the power to tax. They disagreed with their Federalist brethren on how to implement this new government.
Nearly all of their objections centered on the prospects a more powerful government afforded tyrants. Here the Antifederalists demonstrated their belief in the Calvinist doctrine of the Total Depravity of Man. If the new government allowed for opportunities to abuse power, the Antifederalists expected someone to exploit them to the fullest extent. The Antifederalists therefore argued that the utmost care must be used in choosing and implementing...
You must Login to view the entire paper.
If you are not a member yet, Sign Up for free!