Although the Articles of Confederation gave extensive powers to the national legislature—the abilities to declare war, make peace, appoint military officers, coin money, etc.—it could not levy taxes nor was there an executive branch. Even though this deliberate weakness created an Achilles' heel that nearly crippled the fledgling nation, it was not pioneered without incentive; Americans had just revolted against the distant power of King George III and longed for a weak federal government, as contrary to British Parliament as they could achieve. The Revolutionists’ reasons for rebellion stemmed from the philosophies of John Locke. Locke stated that men enter into society to preserve their life, liberty, and property—and when the government takes away or destroys the life, liberty or property of the people, then they are put into a “state of war with the people, who are ther

In the end, it was not the Antifederalists’ fears that compelled the enactment of a bill of rights, but rather the fear of anarchy if the Constitution was not adopted. After Madison agreed to submit a bill of rights to Congress, the last state—Rhode Island—came aboard. These ten amendments to the Constitution would prove to be Patrick Henry and the Antifederalists' most impressive achievement.

The delegates of the Constitutional Convention were correct in their idea that the Bill of Rights was superfluous. What they did not consider in their nearsightedness was the reaction of the people. The Antifederalists would use the lack of a bill of rights as ammunition for their attack against the Constitution and a strong central government.

Bowen, “XV” through “XVIII,” in Miracle at Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention, May to September 1787 (Boston: Back Bay Books, 1986), 185-224.

Some topics in this essay:
Articles Confederation, Daniel Shays, George Mason, Benjamin Franklin, Bill Rights, Laws Montesquieu, Locke Locke, John Dickinson, Bay Books, Similarly Constitution, bill rights, articles confederation, bills rights, life liberty, constitutional convention, james madison, ibid 192 ibid, basic rights, philadelphia story, miracle philadelphia, river jersey prentice, john locke, prentice hall 2000, story constitutional convention, philadelphia story constitutional,