The paper should run between 3 and 5 pages, using 1-inch margins and Times New Roman 12 font. The word count should land somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 words. It is due by 11:59pm on September 26.
TIPS
Do not repeat yourself, do not write a book report, and use good grammar and proper citations throughout. Elaborate the logic of the authors argument using textual justifications. While you should not bring in external sources (i.e., secondary works and interpretations, websites, SparkNotes, etc.) at the expense of primary works, you are encouraged to provide historical and contemporary political situations to highlight the utility of the primary sources assigned. Engage the arguments with your own perspective. Be innovative, and show what is at stake in your argument.
Prompt
Evaluate the major claims made by the Federalists and Anti-Federalists as it relates to the Constitution. With regards to the former, engage with Federalist #10 and 51 and, with regards to the latter, engage with Federal Farmer, Brutus, and/or Patrick Henry. Which camp’s analysis do you find to be the most and least convincing and why?
Readings are below (You don’t have to stick solely to these but I would prefer you use them.):
Federalist Papers (read no.’s 1, 10, 51, and 78): https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/full-text (Links to an external site.)
Letters from the Federal Farmer (read letters 1-5): https://leefamilyarchive.org/papers/essays/fedfarmer/index.html (Links to an external site.)
Essays of Brutus (just read essay 1, if you don’t have the book just yet): https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/brutus-i/ (Links to an external site.)
Patrick Henry, Debate in the Virginia Ratifying Convention: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/patrick-henry-virginia-ratifying-convention-va/ (Links to an external site.)
The Bill of Rights: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/primary-sources/bill-of-rights
Good luck. I will tip well if you do exceptional work.
