The Constitution, when first introduced, set the stage for much controversy in the United States. The two main parties in this battle were the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. Federalists, like James Madison, favored ratification of the Constitution. In contrast, Anti-Federalists, such as Patrick Henry and Richard Henry Lee, were against ratification. Each party has its own opinions on why this document should or should not be adopted. These beliefs are expounded in the following articles: “Virginia Should Reject the Constitution” by Patrick Henry, “The Constitution Will Encourage Aristocracy” by Richard Henry Lee, “Federalist Paper No. 10” by James Madison, and “The Letters to Brutus.” In these documents, many aspects of the Constitution, both good and bad, are discussed. Although Federalists and Anti-Federalists have very conflicting views, many common principles are discussed throughout their essays. The preservation of freedom and the effects of human nature are two aspects of these similarities. Although similarities exist, they represent and support either the views of the Federalists or the Anti-Federalists. Patrick Henry sets out his point of view very clearly in his letter. He is obviously against the ratification of the Constitution. His main arguments focus on state sovereignty, the system of checks and balances and the Senate, the trend toward monarchy, and absolute power. Henry believes that unifying all the states under one government would take away the sovereignty of the states. He said: “Here is a resolution as radical as the one that separated us from Great Britain. She is radical in this transition; our rights and privileges are threatened, and the sovereign...... middle of paper... On the other hand, Madison addresses the subject of liberty to the extent that it is what fuels factions. He says that suppressing freedom is one of the only ways to destroy a faction. He then states that this is not likely and that the factions can do it. are not destroyed, but we must control their consequences in order to have a stable government. Madison believes that the Constitution preserves the liberty of man by representing them fairly in a central government. All of the topics discussed in these essays are highly relevant to their respective causes. They are all supported by valid information and examples. These essays were written by very respectable men and show much insight into the question of whether the Constitution should be ratified or not. The Federalists and Anti-Federalists had very opposing views, but they were used. some of the same topics to support their point of view.