Anti-Federalist Papers Primary Source Analysis

Students will read excerpts from 4 Anti-Federalist writings and answer 33 questions (1 is a creative task and 2 are in reference to a political cartoon). The excerpts are from George Mason's Opposition to the Constitution, Cato 1, Brutus 1, and Centinel 1. The answers are included where appropriate and this would be great for a sub!

Sample questions include:
--How might the Senate, as Mason sees it, lead to a decrease in democracy?
--Why doesn’t Mason agree with the office of Vice-President?
--Summarize the main criticism(s) Mason has with the Constitution as it was written in 1787. 
--Inferring from both the historical context and the text, what does Cato warn against?
--Explain why Brutus refers to this as a “critical period.”
--Explain the purpose of Brutus quoting from Articles 1 and 6 of the Constitution.
--Does Brutus’ example of taxation support his criticism, why or why not?
--Of the future Bill of Rights, which aspects do you think Centinel holds most dear and why?
--Why does Centinel think the “characters” don’t believe they’ll face much pushback? 
--Does it appear that Centinel supports the Connecticut Compromise, why or why not?
--Compare and contrast these 4 excerpts. What do they most have in common, and where do they most differ?

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