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Position Mercy Otis Warren was an anti-federalist.

State Mercy was born in Massachusetts, the state that had played possibly the most influential role in the American Revolution. Massachusetts had the second highest population out of the first thirteen states. This state’s ratification of the Constitution was considered essential in the ultimate ratification of the Constitution. This state’s economy depended mostly on industry with shipbuilding, fishing, and agriculture. Massachusetts was largely democratic, as was demonstrated by their local government.

Occupation and Socio-Economic Background Warren was born into a political family in West Barnstable, Massachusetts. Her father was a merchant and a lawyer who became very involved in the local politics. Her brother was also successful in politics during the Revolution. Mercy received no formal education, though she was educated both scholastically and politically by her experienced family. Thus, she was far more educated than most women during this period in time. She used her education to continue with the family tradition of politics, writing plays, essays, poems, and historical accounts in resistance to British power. She became a very influential writer of the Revolution. During this period, many men felt as though women did not have a place in politics. Therefore, Mercy published her works anonymously both to ensure that she would not be punished by the British and that the political ideas of a woman would be taken seriously. One of Warren’s most famous works is the History of //Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution//. This was also the first of her works to be written under her own name, and the first Revolutionary history written by a woman.

Constitutional Convention and State’s Ratifying Convention Mercy did not attend either of these conventions. This was largely due to the fact the she was a woman. While she was well educated, many men still believed that it was not appropriate for a woman to publicize her political beliefs. Warren also was extremely opposed to the secrecy of these conventions. Since her voice would not be heard, Warren was not involved with any convention regarding the ratification of the Constitution. Instead, she expressed her concerns with the Constitution through her writings.

A Columbian Patriot – Arguments against Ratification Mercy Otis Warren voiced her opposition to the Constitution in a pamphlet entitled //Observations on the Constitution// under the name “A Columbian Patriot.” This pamphlet was written in response to the ratification of the Constitution by the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention. Massachusetts decision was made largely out of necessity to stay with the Union, and not because it actually agreed with the government laid out in the document. Massachusetts also hopes that a bill of rights may be added through future amendments. In her pamphlet, Warren affirms that government is created by the people, and therefore the people have the right to overthrow or disagree with the government if his or her rights are being threatened. She then elaborates that the principle concern of the government should be the rights of the individuals, and that this is not reflected in the constitution. Like many other anti-federalists, Mercy believed the Constitution ought to include a bill of rights to ensure that the liberties and sovereignty of the people were respected. She also saw the idea of a bill of rights added into the Constitution through amendments as a false promise, and believed that trust should not be placed in the hands of a governing body that had already made attacks on the rights of the people. Warren saw parallels between the current situation and that of British power and believed that it would end with a similar result. Mercy also argued that the Constitution gave too much power to the central government at the expense of the powers of the states, a belief that was shared among many Anti-federalists. Warren ended her pamphlet by encouraging her readers not to ratify the constitution and urged for another Constitutional Convention to take place. When this pamphlet was first published, many believed that it was written by Elbridge Gerry as they had many of the same ideas and both were from Massachusetts. Mercy was good friends with John Adams and his wife, Abigail Adams, before the Revolution. They both shared republican ideals, and remained in close contact. Warren often sent her works to Adams to read. However, their friendship became strained as Adams took the side of the Federalists and Warren took the side of the anti-federalists.

Mercy corresponded with many other anti-federalists. In her letters, she acknowledges their ideas. Notable anti-federalists include Richard Henry Lee and Samuel Bryan.

Works Cited

"Warren, Mercy Otis (1728-1814)." //American Eras//. Vol. 4: Development of a Nation, 1783-1815. Detroit: Gale, 1997. 67-68. //Gale Virtual Reference Library//. Web. 13 Sep. 2012.

Warren, Mercy Otis, and Sharon M. Harris. //Mercy Otis Warren selected letters//. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2009. Print.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Zagarri, Rosemarie. "Warren, Mercy Otis." //Americans at War//. Ed. John P. Resch. Vol. 1: 1500-1815. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. 196-197. //Gale Virtual Reference Library//. Web. 13 Sep. 2012.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey. //The American Pageant//. 12 ed. New York Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002. Print.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">*Primary Source on edmodo that I don’t know how I’m supposed to cite