Which is a core theme of the Anti-Federalist Papers?

The core theme of the Anti-Federalist Papers revolves around the protection of individual rights, which is fundamentally captured in the idea that government should support enumerated individual rights. The Anti-Federalists were concerned that the proposed Constitution, as it stood, did not sufficiently guarantee these rights, fearing that a strong central government could lead to tyranny and oppression.

They argued for the necessity of including explicit protections for individual liberties, which ultimately contributed to the adoption of the Bill of Rights. By emphasizing enumerated rights, the Anti-Federalists aimed to ensure that the government would not encroach upon the freedoms of individuals, reflecting a foundational principle that governmental power should be limited and that personal liberties must be protected through clear legal guarantees.

This perspective is a critical aspect of the American political landscape since it laid the groundwork for the ongoing debates about the balance between government authority and individual freedoms.