Luther+Martin-2

Luther Martin Made by Matt Novello
 * __Introduction__**

The country has a tyrant, meaning there is one supreme ruler that takes charge of everything, and basically hijacks the entire region. This is what the Constitution was made for. It was created so this would never happen again. The constitutional convention was held to write and sign the document itself. This wiki is on the story of Luther Martin, the famous Anti-Federalist, who refused to sign the famous document.


 * __1.) Information__**

You almost definately have never heard of Luther Martin, but could easily have heard of Martin Luther, the famous Christian Reformer. Luther Martin was an opposer of the constitution, born in a town called Metuchan, New Jersey in 1748. He graduated first in his class of 35 in 1766 from the College of New Jersey, which was later known as Princeton. He was one of the most controversial figures of the entire Constitutional Convention. Often, he had appeared Drunk in Public, which was actually against the law. He ususally appeared Disheveled, which means unkempt, untidy, or disarranged. Martin moved to Maryland after receiving his degree and taught there for three years. After this, he began to study law and he was admitted into the Virginia Bar in 1771. Luther refused to sign the constitution because he believed that it didn't defend peoples' rights as citizens. Luther Martin went on to represent the state of Maryland in the Constitutional Congress. Luther died on July 8th, 1826, 4 days after the deaths of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who both happened to die on the Fourth of July.
 * __Background:__**

Luther was an anti-federalist, along with Patrick Henry and George Mason. They were some of the few that refused to sign the Constitution, because they all believed that it violated the states' rights. He was the one who broke the pledge of secrecy and informed the Maryland Legistlatures that the Framers had been doing more than what they were assigned, which was "for the sole and express purpose of revising" the Articles of Confederation.
 * __Role:__**

**__DBQ__**

Luther Martin’s opinions on the safeguards of Tyranny:

__** Federalism: **__ Federalism- (n.) A system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units. Luther was an anti-federalist, and he had entirely opposed the Constitution, and the Virginia plan. He despised the idea of federalism, and never decided to change his opinion on it. This is the idea of having a system where all of the branches of the government have a check or a balance for everything that another branch can do. For example, a president can veto a law. Martin really liked the idea of a good system of Checks and Balances, but only thought there should be one Balance. He said "This general government, I believe, is the first upon the earth which gives checks against democracies or aristocracies. The only necessary check in a general government ought to be a restraint to prevent it absorbing the powers of the state governments." This is the idea that the power isn't given to one single person or group. If this is put into effect, it makes the balance a lot easier, and make Tyranny not an option. Luther Martin believed that "We lose the idea of the powers with which we are entrusted." Meaning that people always lose the idea of how much power they have, and have a lust for more. They don't care of what they have, they just want more. I think that he is correct when saying this, its almost impossible to control someone's power thirst. **__Big states vs. Small states__** Luther Martin didn't like how the bigger states get more power. He constantly sided with the smaller states, because of how he hated the idea of a government which is ruled by populous. This is why he decided to oppose the Virginia Plan entirely, and why he helped make the New Jersey Plan. The New Jersey Plan was more accommodating to the smaller states than the Virginia Plan, so he liked it a lot more.
 * __Checks & Balances__**
 * __Separation of Power__**
 * __Attendance Record__**

Luther had attended, or possibly attended 66 different meetings, of the 89 there were total. He was there for a lot of them, but not quite all of them. For about 74% of the time, he was or might have been present at the meetings. Most were maybes, but he was definately there more than he was definately absent.
 * || Number of times || Percent of the time ||
 * Present || 66 || 75% ||
 * Absent || 23 || 25% ||
 * Unknown || 0 || 0% ||




 * __Primary Sources__**

__A. The Constitution of The United States of America:__

"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican form of Government" Luther Martin would oppose against this because he feels there should be one central government. This quote from the Constitution says there will be a separate government for every state, separate from the national government. This is a federalist view, and since he is an Anti-Federalist, he doesn't think that this should be in the Constitution.

B. The 10th Amendment states that certain power is given to the states, and no more than this power is given to them. Luther would oppose this for the same reasons he opposed the Constitution. This is showing the Federalist side of the Constitution, the part that he opposes mainly. This is why he decided to never sign the document, because this was exhibited in it. "Luther Martin: Genuine Information IX by Luther Martin." //TeachingAmericanHistory.org -- Free Seminars and Summer Institutes for Social Studies Teachers//. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. [].
 * __Sources:__**

"Luther Martin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2010. []

"Luther Martins Objections by Luther Martin." //TeachingAmericanHistory.org -- Free Seminars and Summer Institutes for Social Studies Teachers//. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 May 2010. .

Berkin, Carol. //A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution//. 1st ed ed. New York: Harcourt, 2002. Print.