An Introduction to the Federal Farmer

The Federal Farmer was one of the most influential collections of Anti-Federalist Papers.

Observations of the Federal Farmer

The Federal Farmer is a series of 18 essays written against ratification of the US Constitution in late 1787 and early 1788.

These Papers are in two collections. 

The first section was printed as two pamphlets and sold well.

Additional Federal Farmers were then published and did not sell nearly as well, though the contents are valuable to us.

Title

It is important to note that the actual title of Federal Farmer is long.

Real long.

Ready?

Observations Leading to a Fair Examination of the System of Government Proposed by the Late Convention; and to Several Essential and Necessary Alterations in It. In a Number of Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republican.

Yeah, it’s a lot.

The Author

Like many Anti-Federalist Papers, the true identity of the author of Federal Farmer may never be known.

For a long time, it was thought to be the work of Richard Henry Lee.

However, in the mid 20th century, several historians independently began to question Lee as the author.

Since this time, many people have begun to believe that the true author was Melanchton Smith, as the writing style matches his and the content is similar to the speeches he delivered at the New York Ratification Convention.

This series is only part of my regular publications, so…

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