Background
Who opposed the Constitution because they feared it gave too much power to the national government?
The Anti-Federalists
What essential freedoms like speech, press, and trial by jury, did Centinel say were not guaranteed by the Constitution?
Civil liberties / natural rights
What principle do both major political parties agree on—that government must answer to the people?
Accountability
According to Centinel, what must the press act as to protect democracy?
A watchdog
Who wrote Federalist 51 in 1788?
James Madison
During what major national debate were Centinel’s essays written?
The ratification debates
What type of elite ruling class did Centinel argue would form if too much power became centralized?
An aristocracy
What did Centinel call the freedoms of speech, press, and other essential rights?
The blessings of liberty
What phrase did Centinel use to describe the type of public debate needed in a healthy democracy?
Dispassionate and deliberate
What was the purpose of Federalist No. 1?
To introduce and defend the U.S. Constitution
In which state did Centinel publish essays urging citizens to reject the Constitution unless revised?
Pennsylvania
According to Centinel, on what do true freedom and accountability depend?
Simple democratic institutions
What democratic process did Centinel believe should occur frequently to keep leaders responsive?
Elections
A well-informed public helps prevent what type of government abuse or overthrow?
Tyranny
What are the three rights the Declaration of Independence identifies as unalienable?
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
What key protection for individual freedoms did the Constitution originally lack, according to Centinel?
A Bill of Rights
What structure like legislative, executive, and judicial, did Centinel argue could not fully protect liberty in practice?
The three branches / separation of powers
What danger did Centinel warn about involving unlimited taxation, powerful courts, and central authority?
Executive overreach / centralized government power
Centinel believed democracy requires citizens to take part in debate and understand politics. Citizens must be what?
Informed
What weak government system preceded the Constitution, prompting Madison to write Federalist 51?
The Articles of Confederation
Which type of government did Centinel believe best protected citizens’ liberty because it was closest to the people?
Local government
What powerful military force did Centinel fear would threaten liberty under a centralized government?
A standing army
Centinel emphasized the need for open, transparent leadership. What is this ideal called today?
Government transparency
Centinel believed democracy survives only when citizens monitor government closely. What is this principle called?
Citizen vigilance / public oversight
Federalist No. 1 warned against the dangers of rejecting the Constitution without careful consideration of what?
The consequences of weak government and disorder