Roy+W.+-+CRD+-+FA10

Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry was a strong anti-federalist that argued against the ratification of the Constitution in the state of Virginia. Virginia was one of, if not the most agricultural state so there were many farmers that influenced and agreed with Henry's ideas. Many of these farmers opposed the Constitution as well because they did not want a strong central government to take away their liberties and force them to pay their taxes. They were also feared that a strong central government would crack down on debt and possibly foreclose their farms.

He was born and grew up in Hanover County, Virginia. As a child his parents tried to teach him a few different professions, the first of which being farming. By age ten, they figured out that he wasn't going to be a farmer and tried to steer him toward schooling but he wouldn't apply himself to his studies. His father set a business up for him at age 21 but he quickly bankrupted it. After this he received a lot of pressure from his new family and from the town of Hanover to do something so he was forced to study for six weeks and take the bar exam which he passed. He then began work as a lawyer and worked his way up to the House of Burgesses.

When the Constitutional Convention was called Patrick Henry was chosen as a delegate but he declined to serve. He said that he smelled a rat in the Convention and would not be a part of it. When the Constitution was published he was angry of the fact that the Convention met in complete secrecy and used this as another reason to fight against the Constitution.

Patrick Henry led the fight against the Federalists in the Virginia Ratifying Convention. He was an ardent supporter of states rights and believed that the Constitution was destroying the liberties of the people and giving the Federal Government way too much power. He voted against the Constitution in the Convention.

Patrick Henry was the enemy of just about all of the Federalists because he was one of the most radical Antifederalists. He debated with many men including James Madison about the Constitution. He did everything he could to keep the Constitution from being ratified.


 * Bibliography**


 * gentlemen, that, though I might speak of terrors, yet the fact was, and that we. "Virginia Ratifying Convention by Patrick Henry ." //TeachingAmericanHistory.org -- Free Seminars and Summer Institutes for Social Studies Teachers//. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2010. [].
 * "Patrick Henry — Infoplease.com." //Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free online reference, research & homework help. — Infoplease.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2010. [].
 * "Patrick Henry." //ushistory.org//. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2010. [].


 * "Patrick Henry vs. James Madison Debate." //sunyulster//. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2010. .