Malcolm Rivera
Amos Singletary was a Massachusetts farmer and Anti-Federalist who opposed the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1788. He was concerned that the new government's power to levy taxes and import duties would harm debt-ridden farmers. Singletary also feared that the Constitution would consolidate power and wealth in the hands of lawyers, and men of learning, and moneyed men, leading to a neglect of the interests of the common people. He believed that the federal government's powers under the Constitution resembled those of Great Britain, from which the colonies had recently gained independence. Singletary's stance against the Constitution was driven by his desire to limit the influence of wealthy Bostonians in state politics and protect the liberties of the people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Perceived Federalist arrogance | The Federalists' immodesty in pushing for ratification |
| Too much power to the national government | Fear that the federal government's powers would mirror those of Great Britain |
| Sway of wealthy Bostonians over state politics | Fear that the new constitution would favour the rich over the poor |
| No bill of rights | N/A |
| Taxes | Fear that the government's ability to levy taxes and import duties would harm debt-ridden farmers |
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What You'll Learn
Fear of power being consolidated by the wealthy
Amos Singletary was an Anti-Federalist and a farmer from Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was an outspoken critic of the United States Constitution during the Massachusetts hearings on its ratification in 1788. Singletary's fears about the Constitution centred on his belief that it would consolidate power in the hands of the wealthy and disenfranchise the common people.
Singletary argued that the Constitution would give too much power to the national government, echoing the concerns of other small farmers and yeomen who were suspicious of the wealthy elite. He worried that the federal government's powers under the Constitution resembled those held by Great Britain, from which the colonies had recently gained independence.
In particular, Singletary feared that "lawyers, and men of learning, and moneyed men" would use the Constitution to "get all the power and money into their own hands". He believed that these individuals would abuse their positions and "swallow up all of us little folks". Singletary's concerns were rooted in his desire to protect the interests of the common people and limit the influence of wealthy Bostonians over state politics.
Furthermore, Singletary opposed any form of taxation that would hurt him and other debt-ridden farmers. He argued that the government's ability to levy taxes and import duties would harm farmers who were already struggling to make a living from their land. Singletary's fears about the consolidation of power and the negative impact on the common people ultimately led him to vote against the ratification of the Constitution.
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Lack of protection for the common people
Amos Singletary was an Anti-Federalist and outspoken critic of the United States Constitution during Massachusetts's hearings on its ratification in 1788. He argued that the Constitution would give too much power to the national government, echoing the concerns of many small farmers and yeomen who feared the motives of the wealthy elite.
Singletary, a farmer himself, believed that the new government's power to levy taxes and import duties would disproportionately harm debt-ridden farmers already struggling to make a living from their land. He worried that the Constitution would enable ""lawyers, and men of learning, and moneyed men" to "get all the power and money into their own hands", leaving the common people vulnerable to exploitation.
In his own words, Singletary expressed these concerns: "They won't be able to raise money enough by impost, and then they will lay it on the land and take all we have got... They expect to get into Congress themselves... and get all the power and all the money into their own hands. And then they will swallow up all of us little folks, like the great Leviathan, Mr. President; yes, just as the whale swallowed up Jonah. This is what I am afraid of."
Singletary's fears reflected a broader anxiety about the potential for the new government to become corrupt and serve the interests of the wealthy and powerful, rather than the common people. He believed that the Constitution, as it was, did not adequately protect the rights and interests of the general population, particularly those who were already disadvantaged or marginalised.
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Arrogance of Federalists
Amos Singletary was an Anti-Federalist who vehemently opposed the United States Constitution during Massachusetts' hearings on its ratification in 1788. Singletary's opposition stemmed from his belief that the Constitution would consolidate power and wealth in the hands of a privileged few, namely "lawyers, and men of learning, and moneyed men". He feared that these individuals would use their influence to "shove the new ideaqls [ideas] of the nation down the simple folks' throats", marginalizing the interests of the common people.
Singletary's concerns about the concentration of power and the potential for abuse by an elite class reflected his distrust of centralized authority. He argued that the federal government's powers under the Constitution resembled those held by Great Britain, from which the colonies had recently gained independence. Singletary worried that the national government, dominated by the wealthy and well-educated, would impose taxes and duties that would disproportionately harm debt-ridden farmers and ordinary citizens.
The Anti-Federalist sentiment expressed by Singletary was shared by many small farmers and yeomen who were suspicious of the wealthy elite's motives. They feared the expansion of federal power and the potential erosion of local control. Singletary's impassioned speeches highlighted his anger towards the Federalists' arrogance and their push for ratification without adequately addressing these concerns. He believed that the Federalists were dismissive of the legitimate worries of the common people and were more concerned with consolidating their own influence.
Singletary's fears about the Constitution's potential to empower an elite class at the expense of the general populace underscored his belief in the need for a religious test for officials. He saw religious scrutiny as a way to hold leaders accountable and mitigate the risk of them becoming a privileged, untouchable class. Singletary's stance on this matter set him apart from some of his Anti-Federalist counterparts, demonstrating the complexity of the political landscape during the debates surrounding the ratification of the Constitution.
In conclusion, Amos Singletary's outrage towards the Federalists' arrogance was rooted in his deep-seated concerns about the impact of the Constitution on the balance of power and the well-being of ordinary citizens. He vehemently opposed what he perceived as the Federalists' dismissive attitude towards legitimate worries, believing that they prioritized their own political and financial gains over the interests of the people they claimed to represent. Singletary's Anti-Federalist stance, shared by many of his contemporaries, continues to offer valuable insights into the complexities of the early American political landscape and the enduring struggle between centralized authority and local control.
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No bill of rights
Amos Singletary was a farmer and gristmill operator from Sutton, Massachusetts, who served as a delegate to the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention in 1788. He was an outspoken Anti-Federalist and voted against the U.S. Constitution, expressing concerns about the concentration of power and the potential disregard for the interests of the common people.
One of Singletary's primary concerns was the lack of a bill of rights in the Constitution. He feared that the new constitution would favour the rich over the poor and enable "lawyers, and men of learning, and monied men" to "get all the power and money into their own hands". He worried that the absence of a bill of rights would leave the general population vulnerable to the interests of the wealthy and educated elite.
Singletary's fears were shared by many small farmers and yeomen, who were suspicious of the motives of the wealthy elite and opposed the powerful federal government. They believed that the government's ability to levy taxes and import duties would disproportionately harm debt-ridden farmers already struggling to make a living from their land. Singletary himself stated, "Does it not lay all taxes, duties, imposts, and excises? And what more have we to give? They tell us Congress won't lay [direct] taxes upon us, but collect all the money they want by impost [import duties]. I say, there has always been a difficulty about impost...".
The absence of a bill of rights in the Constitution was a significant concern for Singletary and like-minded individuals. They believed that without a clear enumeration of rights, the government would have unchecked power and the potential to infringe upon the liberties of its citizens, particularly those who were already disadvantaged. Singletary's opposition to the Constitution stemmed from his desire to protect the rights and well-being of the common people, ensuring that their interests were not overshadowed by those of the wealthy and educated.
In summary, Amos Singletary's concerns about the lack of a bill of rights in the Constitution reflected his fears of power consolidation by the elite and his commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of ordinary citizens. His stance as an Anti-Federalist and his vocal opposition to the Constitution highlighted the importance he placed on ensuring that the government served all people, not just those in privileged positions.
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Excessive taxation
Amos Singletary, a farmer from Worcester County, Massachusetts, was against the ratification of the United States Constitution. As a delegate to the Massachusetts Ratifying Convention in 1788, he voiced his concerns about the potential negative impact of the new government's taxation powers on debt-ridden farmers. Singletary feared that the government would impose excessive taxes and "impost" (import) duties, exacerbating the financial burden on farmers who were already struggling to make a living from their land.
In his speech, Singletary expressed his worry that "they won't be able to raise money enough by impost, and then they will lay it on the land and take all we have got." He believed that the Constitution favoured the wealthy and privileged over the common people, particularly farmers. Singletary argued that the federal government's powers under the Constitution resembled those held by Great Britain, from which the colonies had recently gained independence. He felt that the interests of the common people would not be adequately protected under the new Constitution.
Singletary's fears about excessive taxation were shared by other small farmers and yeomen, who were suspicious of the motives of the wealthy elite. They worried that a strong federal government, with its power to levy taxes, would primarily benefit the rich and further marginalize the poor. Singletary's concerns reflected a broader sentiment among those who felt that the Constitution did not adequately represent the interests of all citizens equally.
The Anti-Federalist delegate's opposition to the Constitution was also rooted in his perception of Federalist arrogance. He resented the immodesty displayed by Federalists in their push for ratification. Additionally, Singletary supported the American Revolution and sought to limit the influence of wealthy Bostonians in state politics. He believed in limiting the power of the national government and ensuring that officials passed a religious test, demonstrating his commitment to both religious and political ideals.
Amos Singletary's concerns about excessive taxation and the concentration of power among the wealthy were not without merit. While the Constitution aimed to establish a strong federal government, it also sought to protect the rights and well-being of all citizens, including those like Singletary who feared that their voices and livelihoods might be threatened by the very government intended to represent them.
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Frequently asked questions
Amos Singletary was upset because he believed the Constitution would give too much power to the national government.
Singletary was an Anti-Federalist. He was angered by the Federalist arrogance surrounding the adoption of the Constitution.
Singletary believed that the new government's ability to levy taxes and import duties would harm debt-ridden farmers.
Yes, he believed the Constitution favored the rich over the poor. He thought that "lawyers, and men of learning, and moneyed men" would "get all the power and money into their own hands."
Yes, Singletary supported the American Revolution and wanted to limit the influence of wealthy Bostonians over state politics.
