Question

"In a republic, the manners, sentiments, and interests of the people should be similar. If this be not the case, there will be a constant clashing of opinions; and the representatives of one part will be continually striving against those of the other…The laws and customs of the several states are, in many respects, very diverse, and in some opposite; each would be in favor of its own interests and customs, and, of consequence, a legislature, formed of representatives from the respective parts, would not only be too numerous to act with any care or decision, but would be composed of such heterogeneous and discordant principles, as would constantly be contending with each other…." - from "Brutus No. 1," The Anti-Federalist Papers, 1778 Using this excerpt, you could reasonably expect the author would Responses A argue a nation-wide system of education.argue a nation-wide system of education. B oppose the ratification of the Constitution.oppose the ratification of the Constitution. C support the ratification of the Constitution.support the ratification of the Constitution. D oppose the expansion of slavery into new states.oppose the expansion of slavery into new states.

Answer 1

Based on the excerpt from "Brutus No. 1," the author is expressing concerns about the diversity of interests and sentiments among different states and the difficulties that may arise in a large republic where representatives from various regions clash over conflicting interests. This indicates a belief that a central government may struggle to effectively represent and unify a heterogeneous population.

Given this analysis, the most reasonable expectation is that the author would:

B oppose the ratification of the Constitution.

The concerns raised suggest skepticism about the ability of the proposed federal government to manage the diverse interests of the states effectively, which aligns with the broader arguments of the Anti-Federalists against the Constitution's ratification.