John locke influence the bill of rights

Demand for the First Amendment began early. While the Constitution was being written and ratified, Anti-Federalists were already clamoring a Declaration of Rights of the people.

Building the Bill of Rights | National Endowment for the ...

Since the new government would be more powerful than its predecessor, they worried that the absence of a list of basic freedoms would grant the federal government tyrannical power (The Address and Reasons of Dissent of the Minority of the Convention of Pennsylvania to their Constituents). They observed that even a government of the people required a statement of rights to which the citizens could hold it responsible.

In contrast, Federalists opposed any change to the Constitution.

They pointed out that the government had not existed long enough to know its flaws (Jackson, address to Congress, 8 June ), and contended that enumerated rights were unnecessary for a democratic republic. Hamilton noted that "bills of rights are in their origin, stipulations between kings and their sub Locke’s Influence on American Politics – U.S.

Constitution.net HET