Who were the authors of the Anti-Federalist Papers?

Answer 1

The Anti-Federalist writers have never been identified, but historians have some theories about the men behind some of the pen names:

Centinel: Wrote 24 articles that appeared in the Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer and the Philadelphia Freeman's Journal between October 1787 and November 1788. The author's identity is unknown, but thought to be Samuel Bryan or a combination of Bryan and Eleazer Oswald, owner of the Independent Gazetteer.

Federal Farmer: Wrote 18 articles that appeared in the Poughkeepsie Country Journal between November 1787 and January 1788. The author's identity is speculated to be either Richard Henry Lee, a Virginia delegate to the Congress who was then sitting in New York, or Melancton Smith, or a collaboration between the two.

Brutus: Wrote 16 articles that appeared in the New York Journal between October 1787 and April 1788. These essays most closely paralleled those of the Federalists, and were widely reprinted and discussed, making them, perhaps, the most notable of the Anti-Federalist works. The author is believed to be Robert Yates, a New York judge and ally of George Clinton, then Governor of New York.

John DeWitt: Wrote five articles arguing against the need for a stronger central government under a pseudonym borrowed from a 17th-century Dutch Patriot. These articles appeared in Massachusetts' Boston Herald in October through December of 1787. The author's identity remains unknown.

Cato: Wrote seven articles that were published in the New York Journal in late 1787; the last appeared on January 3, 1788. Many historians believe the author was New York Governor George Clinton, but note there is no evidence supporting that theory.

Pennsylvania Minority: The Pennsylvania Minority comprised 21 delegates to the Pennsylvania Convention who opposed ratifying the Constitution. This single essay was written after the state ratified the Constitution, and was originally printed in the Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser on December 18, 1787. The actual author is believed to be Samuel Bryant (who was also thought to be Centinel), based on several later letters in which he claimed ownership of the address.

In addition, there were essays written by several different (unknown) men signed, "A Farmer," "Observer," "A Philanthropist," "Montezuma," "A Federal Republican," and others. Patrick Henry and Melancton Smith also gave public speeches denouncing Federalism.

Answer 2

The Anti-Federalist writers have never been identified, but historians have some theories about the men behind some of the pen names:

Centinel: Wrote 24 articles that appeared in the Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer and the Philadelphia Freeman's Journal between October 1787 and November 1788. The author's identity is unknown, but thought to be Samuel Bryan or a combination of Bryan and Eleazer Oswald, owner of the Independent Gazetteer.

Federal Farmer: Wrote 18 articles that appeared in the Poughkeepsie Country Journal between November 1787 and January 1788. The author's identity is speculated to be either Richard Henry Lee, a Virginia delegate to the Congress who was then sitting in New York, or Melancton Smith, or a collaboration between the two.

Brutus: Wrote 16 articles that appeared in the New York Journal between October 1787 and April 1788. These essays most closely paralleled those of the Federalists, and were widely reprinted and discussed, making them, perhaps, the most notable of the Anti-Federalist works. The author is believed to be Robert Yates, a New York judge and ally of George Clinton, then Governor of New York.

John DeWitt: Wrote five articles arguing against the need for a stronger central government under a pseudonym borrowed from a 17th-century Dutch Patriot. These articles appeared in Massachusetts' Boston Herald in October through December of 1787. The author's identity remains unknown.

Cato: Wrote seven articles that were published in the New York Journal in late 1787; the last appeared on January 3, 1788. Many historians believe the author was New York Governor George Clinton, but note there is no evidence supporting that theory.

Pennsylvania Minority: The Pennsylvania Minority comprised 21 delegates to the Pennsylvania Convention who opposed ratifying the Constitution. This single essay was written after the state ratified the Constitution, and was originally printed in the Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser on December 18, 1787. The actual author is believed to be Samuel Bryant (who was also thought to be Centinel), based on several later letters in which he claimed ownership of the address.

In addition, there were essays written by several different (unknown) men signed, "A Farmer," "Observer," "A Philanthropist," "Montezuma," "A Federal Republican," and others. Patrick Henry and Melancton Smith also gave public speeches denouncing Federalism.